What Are the Benefits of Becoming an ACR Member?
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a non-profit professional association for the rheumatology specialty, serving nearly 9,100 physicians, health professionals, and scientists worldwide. According to the ACR website, members receive discounted registration fees for meetings, access to publications, and other professional resources, and join a community intended to help members excel in their specialty. Membership is aimed at people working in rheumatology — physicians, health professionals, and scientists — rather than the general public.
What Membership Includes
Based on the benefits the ACR lists on its site, membership centers on four areas:
- Discounted meeting registration. ACR/ARP members receive discounted registration fees for ACR meetings, including large events such as ACR Convergence.
- Access to publications. Members gain access to ACR publications, including the ACR/ARP journals.
- Professional resources. The ACR describes membership as providing "unparalleled resources" for the specialty, alongside its clinical tools and guidelines offerings.
- Community. Membership places you in a global community of rheumatology professionals — the ACR serves members worldwide.
Who It's For
The ACR describes its membership base as physicians, health professionals, and scientists who work in rheumatology. If your work touches the diagnosis, treatment, or research of rheumatic diseases, the membership benefits above are designed for you. If you are a patient or caregiver rather than a practitioner, the ACR site points to separate patient-facing resources instead.
How to Decide
| If you... | Membership is likely worth considering because... |
|---|---|
| Attend ACR meetings such as ACR Convergence | Member registration fees are discounted |
| Want ongoing access to ACR/ARP journals and publications | Publications access is a listed member benefit |
| Want specialty resources and a professional network | The ACR frames membership as a community built to help you excel in rheumatology |
| Are a patient or caregiver | The ACR offers patient advocacy and disease resources outside of membership |
How to Join
The ACR provides a "Become a Member" / "Join Today" entry point on its website. The site does not publish membership pricing in the material available here, so check the membership page directly for current dues and category requirements before deciding.
Related ACR Resources
Beyond membership, the ACR site organizes several resources that matter to practitioners:
- Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Guidance — including a newly released osteoarthritis guideline summary
- Clinical Tools and Criteria
- Find a Rheumatology Professional — a directory for locating specialists
- ACR Convergence — the ACR's flagship meeting, with registration and on-demand options
- ACR CareerConnection — a job network with 2,000+ rheumatology-specific jobs, plus job alerts and resume/CV review
If your main goal is meeting discounts and publications access, membership is the direct route. If you only need guidelines or a specialist directory, those are available on the site without joining.