Learn how to utilize musculoskeletal ultrasound to provide improved patient care in this 8-month in-depth training program.
September 21, 2026 - June 13, 2027
The application submission window will be open from August 3, 2026, to September 18, 2026
We know you have other learning opportunties, why should you choose us?
More than 800 students have graduated from our 8-month training program and over 900 people have become members. Our training resources are structured so each student can begin applying their knowledge in their own patient care setting.
Our teaching program has been around since 2008 and membership since 2014. Our teaching methods and resources evolve each year based on advances in musculoskeletal ultrasound along with feedback from our students and members.
We have over 75 educators who provide mentorship and teaching within our programs. They have trained thousands of health professionals, written landmark research papers, and are considered thought leaders in this specialty.
At the completion of the 8-month program, you will have the confidence and understanding for each of the following skills.
How to perform a standard gray scale ultrasound scan of the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.
How to perform a direct, long axis, ultrasound guided needle placement for injection or aspiration of a synovial structure.
How to recognize the typical ultrasound pathology found in conditions of osteoarthritis, gout, calcium pyrophosphate arthropathy, infection related arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritis, degenerative tendon abnormalities, and median nerve impingement.
How to properly adjust ultrasound equipment, and manipulate ultrasound transducer to obtain Doppler signal from vascularized soft tissues such as finger pulp or inflamed synovium.
This comprehensive program ensures that you get everything you need to improve patient care using musculoskeletal ultrasound. It's comprised of three internet-based components and one in-person event.
Online
Online
Onsite
Virtual
We have developed an interactive, self-paced interactive online course which teaches you how to recognize and perform musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Included in this material are scanning videos and lectures, reading assignments, self-assessment quizzes, short scanning assignments, and downloadable resources. We offer a date-based schedule to help you stay on track. If you prefer to work at your own pace, all of the material is available up front so you can plan according to your own schedule and preference.
This course is optimized for desktop computer, mobile phone, and tablet viewing so it can be used as a reference tool at the patient’s bedside.
The image submission and review portion of the program is where you’ll develop and enhance your ultrasound skills.
One of the most valuable parts of this program is the personal written and/or video feedback you will receive from one of our faculty mentors for each joint and injection scan you upload.
You will be required to upload at least 50 complete joint scans.
In addition to scanning the regions listed above, you are also required to gain experience with a wide variety of pathologies as seen by MSUS - gout, pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthritis, soft tissue rheumatism, and OA. You are encouraged to scan as many different patient types as possible.
In-person hands-on workshop with live patient models
The next course will be held February 26-28, 2027, in Tampa, FL
Mandatory Attendance
The 3-day hands-on workshop will focus on ensuring that your scanning technique is optimized, to expose you to the major concepts of musculoskeletal ultrasound in a "live" environment, and to answer any knowledge or technique related questions which have arisen during the first portion of the program.
There will be didactics on joint-based scanning, principles of sonography, along with hands-on scanning of models with and without rheumatic conditions.
May 2027
Virtual hands-on practical exam and written, multiple-choice exam
Mandatory Participation
We feel it is critical for you to determine your level of MSUS knowledge and skill after finishing this program, and this is an integral part of the learning process. Your test results and formative comments from faculty educators will be given to you after the test.
The written test will consist of multiple-choice questions (single best answer type) requiring interpretation of still ultrasound images with common musculoskeletal pathology.
The practical portion will require scanning of individuals to acquire quality still images of the typical joint regions, scanning of patients with rheumatic diseases to demonstrate typical pathology, and demonstrate basic ultrasound guided needle placement on a joint model.
Our educators are nationally recognized musculoskeletal ultrasound experts.
In addition to contributing to the educational course material, our faculty will be your direct mentors, helping you improve your scanning technique and understanding by providing you with individual feedback on your uploaded ultrasound scans.
Here's what some of our previous participants had to say about the USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program.
"It was an amazing experience. I am so happy I had the opportunity to be a participant."
"This program is super organized, coherent, well paced and the feedback is fabulous. The video reviews were particularly helpful."
"Fantastic faculty! Engaged, enthusiastic and devoted to teaching."
This comprehensive 8-month program ensures that you get everything you need to improve patient care using musculoskeletal ultrasound.
September 21, 2026 - June 13, 2027
The application window for the next cohort will be open from August 3, 2026, to September 18, 2026.
$550 is the program registration fee. See FAQ below for more details on full program cost and requirements.
Non-Fellows are healthcare professionals who are NOT enrolled in a rheumatology fellowship program.
International Participant refers to anyone applying who does not reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
Credit card payment for the registration fee is due
when you are accepted and decide to join the program.
View the 2026-2027 USSONAR Fundamentals in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program Syllabus
This program is geared toward rheumatologists and other applicable health care professionals who want to learn how to utilize musculoskeletal ultrasound to provide improved patient care.
A Fellow is a rheumatology fellow who is currently enrolled in a fellowship program based in North America (United States, Canada, or Mexico).
A Non-Fellow is someone who is NOT enrolled in a rheumatology fellowship program. While previous participants have included academic and private practice rheumatologists, internal medicine physicians, or other MDs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and sports medicine specialists, the focus of the teaching is on rheumatic disease manifestations visible on ultrasound scanning.
International applicants are welcome to apply as an International Fellow or Non-Fellow regardless of Fellowship standing at an increased application fee. Please see FAQ Question: How much does the training program cost?
International Participant refers to anyone applying who does not reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
FELLOWS
NON-FELLOWS
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
International Participant refers to anyone applying who does not reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
FELLOWS
NON-FELLOWS and INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
International Participant refers to anyone applying who does not reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
FELLOWS ONLY
FELLOWS, NON-FELLOWS, and INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
NON-FELLOWS and INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
International Participant refers to anyone applying who does not reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
The training program is the right choice if you’re looking for personalized 1:1 training where you upload your own ultrasound scans and receive direct mentor supervision with personalized feedback, explore our 8 month training program. This program combines online training along with live in person events. It's only offered once a year and has limited enrollment. You will receive a free year of membership upon completion of the program.
The membership is perfect if you want a self-paced learning curriculum taught by experts in musculoskeletal ultrasound and do not want the other features of the training program. The educational materials include all of the modules used in our 8 month training program, plus 3 additional ones. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning musculoskeletal ultrasound, and you’ll have immediate access to all of the educational materials after signing up.
Still have questions? Get in touch→
Accepting applications until
September 18, 2026.
1. All applicants: Please review the Fees and FAQ section to ensure you agree with and meet all of the program requirements.
2. All applicants: Obtain one ultrasound image of your wrist in dorsal view. (This is not to test your ultrasound ability, but to make sure that you have the equipment necessary to participate in the program.) Please make sure the ultrasound image is labeled with your full name. You will need upload a JPG/JPEG image with your application.
3. All applicants: We will email you the fourth week in September to inform you whether you have been accepted into the training program. If you choose to participate, you will be required to pay the program registration fee (Fellow: $550 and Non-Fellow: $5,900) in full using a credit card.
4. Fellows only: Download this letter of support then have your program director sign it. You will need upload the PDF with your application.
5. Fellows only: You will need the name and email of your local ultrasound mentor. If you do not have a local mentor, you can enter the name and email of your fellowship program director.