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SCE Rheumatology: Everything You Need to Pass (2026) | iatroX

Specialty Certificate Exam · Federation of RCP

sce rheumatology: everything you need to know to pass.

Name: iatroX SCE Rheumatology Q-Bank
Brand: iatroX
SKU: IATROX-SCE-RHEUMATOLOGY-QBANK
Availability: InStock

Full JRCPTB Rheumatology curriculum coverage, BSR and EULAR guidance, candidate-reported pitfalls and an AI-adaptive question bank by UK rheumatologists — grounded in biologic and tsDMARD sequencing, vasculitis classification, connective tissue disease workup and crystal arthritis.

1,000+questions in iatroX bank

17 Jun 2026next sitting

25 Feb–25 Mar 2026application window

200 (2 papers × 100 BoF)questions per exam

£700UK fee

£875international fee

exam format

Paper 1

100 best-of-five SBAs · 3 hours · computer-based at Pearson VUE designated test centres

Paper 2

100 best-of-five SBAs · 3 hours · same day, after a 1-hour break · imaging (US, X-ray, MRI), histology, capillaroscopy

Candidate level

Pitched at the level of a doctor approaching CCT in rheumatology — biologic decision-making, autoantibody pattern recognition, complex multi-system disease management

2026/01 sitting: 17 June 2026. Application window: 25 February–25 March 2026 (closes 8am UK on 25 March). Reasonable adjustment deadline: 1 April 2026. Results released approximately 6 weeks after the exam. From June 2026 sittings are delivered in centre — the Rheumatology June 2026 sitting marks the transition to in-centre delivery.

blueprint and topic weighting

Approximate question distribution across the JRCPTB Rheumatology curriculum. Used to drive iatroX adaptive sequencing.

Rheumatoid arthritis — DAS28, treat-to-target, csDMARDs, bDMARDs, tsDMARDs (JAKi safety)26 q · 13%

Spondyloarthritis — axial SpA, psoriatic arthritis, IBD-associated, juvenile transition22 q · 11%

Connective tissue disease — SLE, Sjögren, scleroderma (SSc), MCTD, autoantibody panels24 q · 12%

Vasculitis — Chapel Hill 2012 / 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria, ANCA, large-vessel, IgA, single-organ20 q · 10%

Myositis and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies — anti-MDA5, anti-Jo-1, anti-Mi-2, autoantibody-disease links14 q · 7%

Crystal arthritis — gout, CPPD, calcium oxalate, calcium hydroxyapatite, ULT thresholds14 q · 7%

Osteoarthritis and back pain — non-pharmacological, surgical referral, red flags10 q · 5%

Metabolic bone disease — osteoporosis (DXA, FRAX, romosozumab/teriparatide), Paget's, osteomalacia14 q · 7%

Paediatric and adolescent rheumatology — JIA categories, uveitis screening, transition to adult10 q · 5%

Soft tissue and regional MSK — tendinopathy, fibromyalgia, hypermobility (hEDS)10 q · 5%

Infection in rheumatology — septic arthritis, biologic-related infection, prosthetic joint infection12 q · 6%

Statistics, ethics, professional behaviours, EBM in rheumatology10 q · 5%

Rare and overlapping — relapsing polychondritis, IgG4-RD, sarcoid arthropathy, VEXAS syndrome14 q · 7%

Source: official Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK blueprint

high-yield: where most marks live

Drawn from the JRCPTB curriculum, BSR/EULAR/ACR guidelines and item density in iatroX.

Rheumatoid arthritis — EULAR 2022 treat-to-target, csDMARD failure to bDMARD sequencing, JAKi safety signals (ORAL Surveillance — MACE, malignancy, VTE), risankizumab and IL-23 inhibitors for psoriatic arthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis — ASAS classification, MRI sacroiliitis criteria (BME in subchondral bone, EULAR-OMERACT), TNF inhibitors vs IL-17 (secukinumab, ixekizumab, bimekizumab), JAKi (upadacitinib) in r-axSpA

SLE — 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria, lupus nephritis induction (MMF, cyclophosphamide, voclosporin, belimumab combination), hydroxychloroquine essential role, anifrolumab (anti-IFN-α) in non-renal SLE

ANCA-associated vasculitis — KDIGO/EULAR 2022 — rituximab vs cyclophosphamide induction, avacopan (oral C5a receptor antagonist) replacing or sparing steroids, maintenance rituximab

Giant cell arteritis — tocilizumab steroid-sparing per GiACTA, imaging strategy (US-temporal, MRI, PET-CT for large vessel), recognising large-vessel GCA vs Takayasu

Systemic sclerosis — autoantibody-disease links (anti-Scl-70/topo I → ILD/diffuse, anti-centromere → limited/PAH, anti-RNA pol III → renal crisis), nintedanib for SSc-ILD per SENSCIS, autologous HSCT

Gout — ULT initiation thresholds (>1 attack, tophi, CKD, urolithiasis), allopurinol vs febuxostat (CARES safety considerations), pegloticase in refractory gout, target urate <300/360

Newer rare conditions — VEXAS syndrome (UBA1 mosaicism, autoinflammation + haematological), IgG4-RD (storiform fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis), relapsing polychondritis

common pitfalls

Observations from UK rheumatology trainees and recent SCE candidates. Verify against current BSR, EULAR and NICE guidance.

Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.

JAK inhibitor safety — post-ORAL Surveillance (2022), MHRA and EMA restrictions apply (≥65, smokers, CVD risk factors, malignancy history). The class warning is examined directly.
Autoantibody-disease pattern recognition — anti-Mi-2 (classical DM, good response), anti-MDA5 (rapidly progressive ILD, amyopathic DM), anti-Jo-1 and other ARS (antisynthetase syndrome), anti-SRP (necrotising myopathy). Frequently muddled.
Lupus nephritis treatment — voclosporin + MMF + steroid triple therapy per AURORA, belimumab + standard care per BLISS-LN. Mixing trial settings is a common error.
Vasculitis classification — Chapel Hill 2012 vs 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for AAV, IgA vasculitis adults vs children, single-organ vasculitis (e.g. primary CNS, isolated cutaneous).
Giant cell arteritis imaging — temporal artery US halo sign, MRI vessel wall, PET-CT for large-vessel involvement. Knowing first-line imaging modality and biopsy timing matters.
Crystal arthritis — distinguishing monosodium urate (gout, negative birefringent needle) from calcium pyrophosphate (CPPD, positive birefringent rhomboid) under polarised microscopy. Histology images appear directly.
VEXAS syndrome — newly described (2020). UBA1 mosaicism causes autoinflammation + macrocytosis + vacuoles in myeloid precursors. Recently added to SCE content.
Statistics in rheumatology trials — ORAL Surveillance (composite cardiovascular outcome), MAIA in lupus nephritis (renal response), SENSCIS in SSc-ILD (FVC decline). Knowing primary endpoints and NNT.

study strategy: a 16-week plan

A pragmatic phased approach used by recent ST5–ST6 rheumatology passers.

Weeks 1–6

Foundation pass across all 13 blueprint topics. 30 questions/day with the iatroX adaptive engine. Build autoantibody-disease pattern recognition early. Read EULAR recommendations for RA, axSpA, PsA, SLE, vasculitis.

Weeks 7–11

Targeted weak-area drilling. Map every BSR biologics guideline, EULAR 2022/24 updates (treat-to-target, JAKi safety, AAV with avacopan), 2022 ACR/EULAR ANCA criteria. Practise capillaroscopy and joint US pattern recognition.

Weeks 12–14

Two timed 200-SBA mock exams under exam conditions weekly. Practise autoantibody panel interpretation and synovial fluid microscopy under time pressure. Review trial primary endpoints.

Weeks 15–16

Bookmark review only. Targeted reading on VEXAS syndrome, IgG4-RD diagnostic criteria, anifrolumab and bimekizumab. Confirm Pearson VUE booking. Sleep, hydrate, do not learn new material.

real SCE Rheumatology question

A live item from the iatroX bank. Try it before launching a full session.

sample question · SCE Rheumatology

A 24-year-old man has rapidly progressive skin thickening of forearms and trunk, tendon friction rubs, new hypertension and anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies. What is the most appropriate biologic?

Mixed connective tissue disease
Primary Sjögren's disease
Repeat ANA titre alone
Adalimumab
Rituximab for progressive skin or lung disease in specialist care

the iatroX edge

Why iatroX is built differently for SCE Rheumatology.

mapped to the official exam blueprint

Every iatroX item is tagged to a blueprint topic, so your performance dashboard mirrors the structure of the exam itself.

adaptive sequencing

The engine surfaces your weakest topics first, in real time, instead of marching you through a static syllabus.

spaced repetition built in

Incorrect items return at increasing intervals to interrupt the forgetting curve and lock knowledge into long-term memory.

mock exam mode

Timed full-length simulations that mirror the official exam structure under realistic conditions.

1,000+ questions · last reviewed 12 May 2026 · sources: EULAR Guidelines (2022–2025) · BSR Position Statements · NICE · ACR/EULAR Criteria · BNF · MHRA-registered Class I medical device

$29/mo · $99/yr

One iatroX subscription includes the SCE Rheumatology bank plus every other premium iatroX exam bank.
Cancel anytime · 30-day money-back guarantee on annual

frequently asked questions

how many questions does the iatrox sce rheumatology bank contain?

Over 1,000 best-of-five SBAs mapped to the JRCPTB Rheumatology curriculum and Federation blueprint. Items are reviewed regularly against current BSR position statements, EULAR/ACR criteria and recommendations, and NICE guidance.

when is the sce in rheumatology held?

Once yearly in June. The 2026 sitting is on 17 June 2026. Applications open 25 February 2026 and close 25 March 2026 (at 8am UK time). Results are released approximately 6 weeks after the exam.

what is the format?

Two papers of 100 best-of-five SBAs each, three hours per paper, sat on the same day with a one-hour break between. Total 200 questions. The June 2026 sitting marks the Federation's transition to in-centre delivery at Pearson VUE locations. Paper 2 is widely reported to carry more image-led items (US, X-ray, MRI, capillaroscopy, synovial fluid microscopy).

when can i sit the sce in rheumatology?

Most UK trainees sit during ST5 or ST6 (penultimate year of higher specialty training). There are no formal restrictions on when in training you sit, but CCT requires a pass before completion. International candidates can sit at any time once registered with the Federation.

how much does the exam cost?

UK fee is £700; international fee is £875. Fees are non-refundable after the application closing date. From June 2026 all sittings are delivered in-centre at Pearson VUE locations.

how are autoantibodies tested?

Autoantibody-disease pattern recognition is one of the highest-yield areas. iatroX includes detailed panels — ANA pattern (homogeneous, speckled, nucleolar, centromere) interpretation, anti-ENA subtypes, anti-CCP and RF, myositis-specific autoantibodies (anti-MDA5, anti-Jo-1, anti-Mi-2, anti-SRP), and scleroderma-specific antibodies.

is the iatrox bank included in one subscription?

Yes. A single iatroX subscription (£29/month or £99/year for UK users; $29/$99 elsewhere) includes the SCE Rheumatology bank alongside every other premium iatroX exam bank. No add-ons or per-exam fees.

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Reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP · Last reviewed 12 May 2026

See our methodology and editorial policy.

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