The following credentials and programs are supported by the CREATE scholarship program. If your goal is to qualify for scholarship funds, your first step is to submit an online CREATE application (see Forms box), which does not commit you.
Once you submit your online application, you will receive an on-screen message which confirms your application will be processed within 3-5 business days and that you will receive a "CREATE Next Steps" email notice which includes more information. Afterwards, you may email any follow-up questions you may have.
- Assistive Technology Specialist (add-on program): The University of Illinois Chicago offers the only fully-online program of graduate coursework in the nation that leads to national certification as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). Applicants must (a) hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in special education, (b) hold SCDE licensure in one special education area, and (c) have special education teaching experience. After submitting an application, individuals must submit a nomination (see Forms box) from their local school district administration which agrees to employ the candidate as an assistive technology specialist upon program completion.
- Behavior Analyst/Interventionist (add-on program): Francis Marion University offers a fully online program of coursework that leads to national certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Applicants must (a) hold a Master's degree in special education/related field, (b) hold SCDE licensure in one special education area, and (c) have special education teaching experience. After submitting a CREATE application, individuals must submit a nomination (see Forms box) from their local school district administration which agrees to employ the candidate as a behavior analyst/interventionist upon program completion.
- Orientation & Mobility Specialist (add-on program): USC Upstate offers a mixed program of online and campus (summers) coursework that leads to the Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) national certification. Applicants must (a) hold a valid SCDE educator license in Visual Impairments, and (b) have teaching experience in Visual Impairments. After submitting a CREATE application, individuals must submit a nomination (see Forms box) from their local school district administration which agrees to employ the candidate as an O&M Specialist upon program completion.
- School Psychologist (Specialist degree): The Citadel and Francis Marion University offer a Specialist degree program that leads to State licensure in school psychology. Both are three-year programs that require a fourth year full-time internship. The Citadel offers after-school/campus-only courses. FMU offers online courses that require synchronous attendance (4:00-7:00 PM), three nights per week. After submitting a CREATE application, individuals must submit a nomination (see Forms box) from their local school district administration which agrees to employ the candidate as a school psychologist upon program completion.
- Secondary Transition Specialist (add-on program): SCDE prescribes a mixed program of online and campus coursework that leads to add-on licensure as a secondary transition specialist. All coursework is available online through USC Columbia. After submitting a CREATE application, individuals must submit a nomination (see Forms box) from their local school district administration which agrees to employ the candidate as a transition specialist upon program completion.
- Special Education Teacher (add-on program): SCDE prescribes programs of coursework leading to add-on licensure in teaching Early Childhood Special Education, Emotional Disabilities, Hearing Impairments, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Multi-categorical Special Education, Severe Disabilities, and Visual Impairments. Campus and online coursework are available at participating SC colleges. No school district administration nomination is required.
- Special Education Teacher (Bachelor’s degree): Columbia College, Horry-Georgetown Technical College/Coastal Carolina University, Southern Wesleyan University, Trident Technical College/The College of Charleston, and USC Aiken offer fully online Bachelor’s degree programs that lead to initial licensure in Multi-categorical Special Education. No school district administration nomination is required.
- Special Education Teacher (MAT degree): Converse College, Francis Marion University, Lander University, USC Columbia and USC Upstate offer Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree programs that lead to initial licensure in various special education areas. Converse offers an MAT in ID, Multi-cat, or LD (online/after-school-campus/summer courses). Lander offers an MAT in Multi-cat Special Education (fully online). USC Columbia offers an MAT in Multi-cat Special Education (fully online) or Severe Disabilities (online/after-school-campus/summer courses). FMU offers an MAT in Multi-cat (fully online). USC Upstate offers an MAT in VI (fully online). No school district administration nomination is required.
- Speech-Language Pathologist (Master's degree): USC Columbia offers a Master's degree program in Speech-Language Pathology (fully online) that results in initial SCDE licensure. SC State University offers a Master's program in SLP (campus courses) available after-school/evenings and summers that leads to initial SCDE licensure. Prerequisite/background courses must be completed before the applicant is qualified for CREATE scholarship funding of all standard SLP graduate coursework. No school district administration nomination is required.