Disclosed herein are methods for forming split-gate MOSFETs including a gate shield. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a device structure including a well formed in an epitaxial layer, forming a set of trenches through the well and the epitaxial layer, implanting the device structure to form a gate shield layer at a bottom of each of the set of trenches, and forming a gate spacer layer over the device structure including within the set of trenches.