Washington Veterans Employment Preference: Government Job Advantages
Last reviewed: July 2026
Quick Answer
Federal veterans earn 5 or 10 bonus points on most federal and Washington state civil service job exams. Veterans with a service-connected disability rated by VA receive 10 points; others receive 5 points. Washington state agencies must honor federal preference law when hiring for state positions. Spouses and survivors of deceased or disabled veterans may qualify for derived preference under specific circumstances.
Key Facts
- •Federal veterans receive 5 or 10 points on civil service exams depending on disability.
- •Washington state agencies must apply federal preference rules to state job applicants.
- •Spouses and survivors of deceased veterans may qualify for derived preference.
- •DD Form 214 and VA disability rating letter are required to claim preference.
- •Washington County Veterans Service Offices help veterans apply for state positions.
Federal Eligibility Requirements
Veterans preference applies to veterans who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, or activated National Guard or Reserve. Service must have ended by honorable discharge (or still on active duty). Veterans who served during wartime, peacetime, or with a service-connected disability all qualify. Under 5 U.S.C. § 3309 and 5 C.F.R. § 211.102, veterans receive either 5 or 10 bonus points on federal competitive civil service exams. Those with a VA-rated service-connected disability (any percentage) receive 10 points; all other honorably discharged veterans receive 5 points. There is no minimum length of service requirement—even one day of active duty counts if the discharge was honorable.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from service-connected disability, and spouses of veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 100% (by VA rating), may qualify for derived preference if unmarried or widowed. Spouses must apply through federal or state HR offices with supporting documentation.
No income or asset limits apply to veterans preference eligibility. It is a hiring advantage, not a needs-based program. Preference applies only to competitive civil service positions, not to Senior Executive Service, political appointments, or some excepted positions. Your DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and VA disability rating letter (if claiming 10-point preference) are the primary eligibility documents required.
Benefit Amounts
Veterans preference is not a monetary benefit. It is a hiring advantage applied as bonus points on civil service examination scores. A 5-point veteran receives 5 bonus points added to their passing exam score; a 10-point veteran receives 10 bonus points. These points increase ranking on hiring certificates, placing veterans ahead of non-veterans with lower scores. Preference does not guarantee a job but significantly improves placement likelihood. The preference is applied uniformly across all federal agencies and states participating in federal hiring systems. As of 2024, this point system remains the standard nationwide with no dollar value or annual adjustment.
Washington Benefits on Top of Federal
Washington state extends federal veterans preference to its own civil service hiring through RCW 73.04.086 and WAC 358-14-400. State agencies and departments must apply the same 5 or 10-point preference system when hiring for competitive positions. Washington requires state job applicants to submit a DD Form 214 and, if claiming 10-point preference, a VA disability rating letter or Rating Decision. The state must give veterans preference on all classified civil service job announcements.
Washington does not supplement the federal point system with additional state-only bonus points. However, Washington's veterans hiring preference law is strictly enforced across state departments, including the Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor & Industries, Department of Corrections, and all other cabinet-level agencies. County Veterans Service Offices throughout Washington provide free assistance to veterans in applying for state positions and documenting their preference eligibility.
The state recognizes both standard (5-point) and disability (10-point) veterans, as well as derived preference for spouses and survivors of deceased or totally disabled veterans. Washington also has separate state veterans benefits programs (such as property tax exemptions and educational benefits), but veterans preference is strictly limited to the federal point system. There is no waiting period or residency requirement to claim preference in Washington state civil service hiring—veterans from any state may apply and claim preference when applying for Washington state jobs.
How to Apply
Federal VA Application
To claim federal veterans preference on civil service exams, visit the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website at www.opm.gov and use the USAJOBS portal (www.usajobs.gov) to search and apply for federal positions. When completing your USAJOBS profile, you must declare veterans preference in the "Military Service" section. You will be asked to upload a copy of your DD Form 214. If claiming 10-point disability preference, also upload your VA disability rating letter (Rating Decision from VA.gov or accessible through your VA.gov account).
When applying for a specific federal job, select your veterans preference category in the job application form. Federal agencies automatically verify preference eligibility through OPM records and VA systems. After you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. The agency then schedules you for a civil service exam or rated review. Your preference points are added to your score after you pass. Processing times vary by agency (typically 2–8 weeks for exam results). You can track your application status in USAJOBS under "Application Status" and by checking OPM announcements. The hiring agency's HR office will contact you if you are selected for an interview.
State Application
To claim veterans preference on Washington state civil service jobs, search for openings on the Washington State Human Resources (HR) website at www.hrc.wa.gov or on the state's careers portal. Washington state job announcements clearly state whether the position is covered by veterans preference. When you apply online, you will be asked to declare your veterans status in the application form. Prepare your DD Form 214 and (if applicable) your VA disability rating letter in digital format.
Upload these documents with your application as proof of eligibility. Some state agencies accept applications directly through their departmental portals; others use the state HR system. County Veterans Service Offices (located in most Washington counties) provide free in-person assistance with application preparation and document gathering. Call your county VSO to confirm hours and location. The VSO can also help you obtain official copies of your DD Form 214 from the National Personnel Records Center if your original is lost.
After you submit your application to a Washington state agency, HR will verify your preference eligibility using your documents and may contact the VA to confirm disability rating. Processing typically takes 3–6 weeks. You will be notified of your exam date or interview invitation by email or phone. If you are selected as a preference-eligible veteran, you will be placed on the hiring certificate ahead of non-preference applicants. Washington state HR will contact you directly if you move forward in the hiring process.
Common Reasons for Denial
Veterans preference claims are most often denied when applicants provide incorrect discharge documentation or no discharge paperwork at all. If your DD Form 214 shows a discharge status other than "Honorable" or "General Under Honorable Conditions," you will be ineligible. Bad Conduct Discharges, Dishonorable Discharges, and discharges marked "Other Than Honorable" do not qualify. Verify your discharge status through www.archives.gov or by requesting official records from the National Personnel Records Center.
Applicants claiming 10-point disability preference frequently fail to submit current VA disability rating documentation. A general "disability discharge" notation on your DD Form 214 is not sufficient—you must provide your actual VA Rating Decision showing a specific service-connected disability rating percentage. This document must be dated and official; screenshots or informal letters are rejected. Many veterans do not realize they are eligible for a VA disability rating and miss the opportunity to claim higher preference points.
Another common issue is missing the application deadline or applying to positions that explicitly exclude veterans preference (some excepted service, Senior Executive Service, and temporary positions are not covered). Read each job announcement carefully to confirm that veterans preference applies. Additionally, derived preference (for spouses or survivors) requires proof of the veteran's death or 100% VA disability rating plus documentation of the family relationship. Missing or incomplete marriage certificates or death certificates cause derived preference denials. County Veterans Service Offices can help you gather complete, official documentation before submission.
If You Are Denied: The Appeals Process
If a federal agency denies your veterans preference claim or you believe your preference was not properly applied to your hiring score, you have options within the federal civil service appeal system. First, request a Reconsideration through the agency's HR office or OPM. Submit a written request within 15 calendar days of the denial, explaining why you believe the decision was wrong and providing additional documentation if available. Include a copy of your official DD Form 214 and VA rating letter.
If the agency upholds the denial after reconsideration, you may file a formal appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) within 30 calendar days. However, MSPB appeals apply only to actual employment decisions (hiring, termination, or adverse action), not to exam scores or rating errors that did not result in hiring decisions. For exam score disputes, contact OPM's Veterans Employment Center at (202) 606-2700 or submit a complaint through www.opm.gov.
For Washington state civil service positions, follow the state's internal appeal process outlined in the job announcement. Submit your appeal to the hiring agency's HR office within 30 days of the denial, with documentation of your eligibility. The state HR office may conduct a review or convene a hearing. If dissatisfied with the state decision, you may file a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) at www.hrc.wa.gov if discrimination is involved. Free assistance is available from your County Veterans Service Office and from the VA Regional Office in Seattle. Never pay for appeals assistance; federal law prohibits charging veterans for representation in preference disputes.
Washington County Veterans Service Offices provide free assistance with veterans preference applications and document gathering. Locate your county VSO at the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs website (www.dva.wa.gov) or call 1–800–562–2308. VSOs can help you obtain your DD Form 214, verify your disability rating, complete state job applications, and resolve eligibility issues at no cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 5-point and 10-point veterans preference?
Five-point preference is awarded to all honorably discharged veterans regardless of disability status. Ten-point preference is awarded to veterans with a VA-rated service-connected disability (any rating percentage from 0% to 100%), to spouses of veterans with 100% disability rating, and to widows/widowers of veterans who died in service or from service-connected disability. The 10-point advantage gives disabled veterans and their families significantly better placement on hiring certificates. For example, a non-veteran scoring 85 on an exam would be ranked below a 5-point veteran who scored 80, and far below a 10-point veteran who scored 80. Both types of preference apply in federal and Washington state civil service hiring.
Does veterans preference guarantee I will get a government job?
No. Veterans preference does not guarantee employment; it provides a hiring advantage by adding bonus points to your exam score and improving your rank on hiring certificates. You must still pass the civil service exam or meet the job qualifications, compete against other applicants, and be selected for an interview. Preference increases the likelihood that you will be contacted and considered, but it does not override minimum qualifications or automatic hiring. Hiring officials still have the final say on who is hired. However, by law, veterans must be considered before non-veterans with the same or lower scores. Understanding this distinction helps you approach government job applications as a competitive process where your preference is one advantage among others.
How do I prove I have a service-connected disability rating for 10-point preference?
You must provide an official VA disability rating letter or Rating Decision. This document is issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after you file a disability claim. Your rating letter shows your specific service-connected condition(s) and your disability percentage (0%, 10%, 20%, etc.). Any percentage qualifies you for 10-point preference. You can access your rating letter through your VA.gov account or by calling the VA at 1–800–827–1000. If you do not have a rating letter and believe you have a service-connected disability, contact the VA Regional Office in Seattle (1–800–827–1000) to file a claim. Do not use informal documents, dd214 discharge codes, or disability discharge paperwork alone—agencies require the official VA rating decision.
Can my spouse or survivor get veterans preference if I am deceased or totally disabled?
Yes. Under federal law (5 U.S.C. § 3309), an unmarried widow or widower of a veteran who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability may claim derived preference in federal and state civil service hiring. Additionally, the spouse of a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability rating (by VA) may claim preference if unmarried or the surviving spouse of that veteran. Derived preference applicants must submit proof of the family relationship (marriage certificate), proof of the veteran's death (death certificate) or 100% disability rating (VA rating letter), and the veteran's dd form 214. Washington state honors derived preference in state hiring. If you believe you qualify as a derived preference applicant, contact your County Veterans Service Office for assistance gathering documentation.
What if my DD Form 214 is lost or I cannot find it?
You can request an official copy of your DD Form 214 from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at www.archives.gov/veterans or by mail at the address listed on their website. The process typically takes 2–4 weeks. You may also request a certified copy through your County Veterans Service Office in Washington, which can expedite the process. Some states and federal agencies accept a temporary military records verification letter while you are waiting for your official DD Form 214. Contact the hiring agency's HR office to ask if they will accept temporary verification. Once you receive your official DD Form 214, verify that your discharge status is listed as "Honorable" or "General Under Honorable Conditions." If there is an error, contact the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) to request an amendment. Your County VSO can help you file a BCMR application if needed.
Related Benefits in Washington
Sources & References
- 5 U.S.C. § 3309 — Establishes federal veterans employment preference framework and point awards
- 5 C.F.R. § 211.102 — Defines veterans preference eligibility and service requirements
- RCW 73.04.086 — Washington state law extending veterans preference to state employees
- WAC 358-14-400 — Washington Administrative Code governing state hiring preference implementation
VA benefit rules and state programmes change. Verify at va.gov or with a free Veterans Service Officer.
Editorial standards: This guide is reviewed against primary government sources and cites 4 statutes. Last reviewed July 2026. Scheduled for re-verification by July 2027.
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