Portland State University has a certificate of completion program in autism that can be applied as undergraduate or graduate credit totaling 19 credits. Students are required to pass five courses and participate in four field-based practicums. Students take courses that include educating children with autism spectrum disorder (understanding the research), individualized student program planning using applied behavior analysis, generalization strategies using the STAR and FACTER programs, focus on social understanding and functional behavioral support, and strategies for working with families of children with autism.
Pennsylvania State University has a graduate certificate program in autism offered in an online format and requires that participants have earned a baccalaureate degree in education or a related field. Students are required to take four courses, unless they have already passed the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) I and II courses in the certificate program for ABA. In that case, they are only required to complete three courses. The courses in this program cover topics that include character and learning traits, ABA, language development and communication strategies.
St. Cloud State University in Minnesota offers an autism graduate certificate program that can be completed in one summer term. Students must have a bachelor's degree and be professionally licensed in speech-language pathology, special education, physical therapy, behavior analysis, occupational therapy or other related areas. In addition to the required core courses, three prerequisite courses are also required. All students must complete special education foundations and behavior theories and practices as their prerequisite courses as well as the core courses, which include learning environments for students with autism spectrum disorders, language/communication assessment and interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders and behavior/social skills assessment and interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders.
National University has an online continuing education certificate program in autism education. This program is accredited by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and consists of four courses that must be completed in order to earn a certificate of completion. Each course lasts eight weeks and includes introduction to students with autism spectrum disorders, assessment and behavioral applications in autism, evidence-based intervention/instruction for students with autism and autism: collaboration with parents and families.