HIV Continuing Education

Key Takeaways

As the field of HIV medicine continues to evolve, clinicians must stay informed on the latest therapeutic advances, prevention strategies, and patient-centered care models. Through HIV continuing education on FreeCME.com, healthcare professionals including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists, can access current HIV treatment updates, explore evidence-based approaches to HIV prevention, and strengthen their capacity to provide inclusive, stigma-free care.

Evolving HIV Treatment: Key Updates

HIV treatment has made extraordinary advancements in the past year, with new therapies and management strategies transforming how clinicians approach patient care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released updated HIV treatment guidelines in September 2025, introducing new recommendations on cardiovascular and metabolic complications in people with HIV. These updates reaffirm the importance of early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a preference for integrase strand transfer inhibitor–based regimens.

One of the most notable advances is the growing use of long-acting injectable ART, which has shown strong efficacy among individuals facing challenges with daily oral medications. A recent National Institutes of Health study about HIV treatments demonstrated that long-acting injectable treatment improved viral suppression rates among adults and adolescents who struggled with adherence. At the same time, new research has expanded the pharmacologic landscape with emerging long-acting agents, such as VH-184 and VH-499, which show promise for extending dosing intervals even further.

As people with HIV live longer, the focus of care is also shifting toward the management of chronic comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The previously mentioned DHHS guideline updates emphasize regularly and consistently screening and monitoring patients at risk for and diagnosed with HIV infection. Clinicians are encouraged to integrate these principles into ongoing HIV education and continuing medical education curricula so that care teams understand how to select, initiate, and monitor newer therapies while addressing holistic health needs.

HIV PrEP CME: Prevention as a Cornerstone of Care

Prevention remains central to HIV care, and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) CME courses are equipping clinicians with the skills to expand access to PrEP in both traditional and community settings. Updated PrEP protocols emphasize individualized risk assessment, patient counseling, and adherence support. Providers are encouraged to adopt a proactive approach by normalizing discussions around sexual health, routine HIV screening, and PrEP eligibility. As stigma and structural barriers persist, clinicians must also understand the social and behavioral determinants influencing PrEP uptake, particularly among marginalized populations and communities. Education in this area helps providers close gaps in prevention and support national efforts toward ending the HIV epidemic.

Addressing HIV Stigma and Enhancing Patient-Centered Care

Despite decades of medical progress, HIV stigma remains one of the greatest obstacles to prevention and treatment success. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV stigma encompasses negative attitudes, discrimination, and fear that can discourage individuals from seeking testing or care. For example, a study published in Social Science & Medicine (February 2025) showed that Black female patients who experienced stigma in healthcare settings often reported feelings of shame, mistrust of providers, and lower adherence to therapy, leading to poorer clinical outcomes.

Healthcare professionals can play a powerful role in dismantling these barriers by incorporating stigma reduction strategies into every aspect of care. Education and training are key, since clinicians who receive continuing education on HIV and stigma reduction demonstrate more inclusive attitudes and improved patient interactions. Using person-first, nonjudgmental language, such as “people living with HIV” instead of “HIV patients” and maintaining strict confidentiality, help create an environment of trust. The World Health Organization recently published a technical brief outlining practical steps for reducing stigma in healthcare settings, including improving patient communication, ensuring privacy, and training all levels of staff on equitable treatment practices.

By fostering open dialogue and building empathetic clinical relationships, providers can help patients overcome fears of disclosure and improve retention in care. This shift toward compassionate, stigma-free practice not only enhances the patient experience but also contributes directly to improved viral suppression rates and long-term health outcomes. Therefore, reducing stigma is a cornerstone of both ethical healthcare and effective HIV continuing education.

Earn HIV CME and Stay Ahead

FreeCME.com offers accredited HIV continuing education activities designed to help healthcare professionals stay up to date on treatment innovations, prevention strategies, and patient engagement techniques. Courses cover everything from HIV treatment updates to HIV PrEP CME and stigma reduction best practices. By earning CME through these expert-developed modules, clinicians can expand their clinical expertise, meet licensure requirements, and continue advancing the quality of HIV care in the years ahead.