Veterans Information

Veterans’ Preference

Overview

Veterans’ Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans’ Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

All state job seekers are required to pass an examination to qualify for the job classification of the position to which they are applying. Veterans’ Preference assures that Veterans’ and select veteran beneficiaries who pass the exam will be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list. This means that with Veterans’ Preference you have a higher likelihood of being selected for an interview from the eligible pool of candidates for the jobs to which you apply.

Please note, you still must prove your eligibility and participate in all the steps of the competitive hiring process. Veterans’ Preference does not guarantee you will be selected for an interview or for a position. This is a voluntary assistance program and Veterans are not required to participate. Veterans’ Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 - 18979

Eligibility

Veterans’ Preference applies to open examinations you pass. Open exams do not include promotional exams which are available once you become a civil service employee through specific departments.

• A passing score is 70 or above. If you take an exam and do not pass it, Veterans Preference is not applied to that exam. You are still eligible for Veterans’ Preference on other exams you pass.

You are eligible for Veterans’ Preference if you are:

• Any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran.
• Any currently serving military service member who will be eligible for veteran status within 6 months (please see the section on Transitional Waivers below).

You are not eligible for Veteran’s Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released is not eligible for Veterans’ Preference.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status.
  • Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term.

How to Apply as a Veteran

If you are a veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran, you may apply for Veterans’ Preference by submitting the following:

1. Legible copy of your Member 4 Copy of DD-214:
   1. Please ensure your character of service is included on your DD-214.
   2. Do not redact your social security numbers as this is how your DD-214 is matched to your application.
2. Veterans Preference Application Form (CalHR 1093)
   1. You must sign this form by hand or with a secure electronic signature.
3. Submit copies of the completed CalHR 1093 Form, Member 4 Copy of DD-214 and any supporting documents as directed in CalHR 1093 Form to:

California Department of Human Resources
ATTN: Examination Unit
1515 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95811

Provisional Transitional Waiver for Currently Serving Military Members

Veteran’s Preference is extended to currently serving military members before their military service separation with the goal of providing an opportunity for seamless transition between military service and California state service. Military members may gain Veteran’s Preference and start applying for state positions up to 6 months prior to exiting the military.

How to Apply as a Currently Serving Military member

If you are still a military service member, you may apply for Veterans’ Preference by submitting the following:

1. Veterans Preference Application Form (CalHR 1093)
   1. You must sign this form by hand or provide a secure electronic signature.
2. Provisional Transitional Waiver Form (CalHR 1094)
   1. This must be signed by your Commanding Officer or Authorized Military Personnel Administrator and must include their contact information.

Submit copies of the completed CalHR 1093 Form and CalHR 1094 Form and any supporting documents as directed in CalHR 1093 Form to:

California Department of Human Resources
ATTN: Examination Unit
1515 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95811

When you retire from military service, update your status by submitting your DD-214 and an updated 1093 Form within 30 days of your separation date. If you do not separate on that date, you may extend your transitional waiver status by submitting a new Form 1093 and Form 1094. Before entering state service with the benefit of Veterans’ Preference, you will have to provide proof of your Veteran status if you have not yet done so.

How Veterans’ Preference is Applied

Once CalHR has approved your application for Veterans’ Preference, your information will remain on file for all future qualifying examinations, and you will automatically be added to the top rank for any State civil service examination you pass.

If you already passed a State civil service exam within the last year but had not yet been granted Veteran’s Preference, your Veterans’ Preference status will be automatically applied on your eligibility lists once you are approved for Veteran’ Preference.

Per 18973.5, once you achieve permanent civil service status, Veterans’ Preference will stop being applied.

Career Credits Not Applicable to Veterans’ Preference

Career Credits can be applied towards exams in certain situations pursuant to Sections 18950.1, 18951, and 18951.5. Veterans and service members receiving Veterans’ Preference are not eligible for these credits. Veteran’s Preference will place you in the top rank and therefore additional career credits are not necessary.

Self-Service Options for Checking Veterans’ Preference

Check Your Veteran Record
Check that your Veterans record is on file by logging into your CalCareers Account. Click on My Account from the menu bar at the top of the page. Select Additional Records from the left-hand menu bar. This page will show whether your Veterans record is on file.

Check Your Veterans’ Preference Status
Check your Veterans’ Preference status on exams you have passed by logging into your CalCareers Account. Click on My Account from the menu bar at the top of the page. Select Exam/Assessment Records from the left-hand menu bar. Exams that you have passed will be listed here. Click on the hyperlinked List Code for the exam you would like to check. You will see a description of your eligibility which will indicate whether Veterans’ Preference is granted for each exam. If you have been approved for Veterans’ Preference and you do not see that it was granted on an exam, please contact us using the information below.

Contact Us

Contact CalHR’s Examination Unit with questions you may have regarding Veterans’ Preference:

California Department of Human Resources
1515 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(866) 844-8671

Telephone Communication Service for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
California Relay Service, From TDD: (800)735-2929, From Voice (800) 735-2922.
California Relay (Telephone) Service, From TTY: 711 (NATIONAL RELAY SERVICE)

Military Experience

The State of California values your service and your experiences in military service. Two notable codes ensure that your military experience is recognized when you take civil service examinations.

Military Leave Counts as Public Service

Government Code Section 18977 ensures individuals who take military leave from civil service or related positions are not disadvantaged in civil service examinations. If you have taken military leave from a state civil service or exempt position or from a position in any federal or other public agency, you will not have your military leave counted against your service time. When taking any civil service examination and filling out minimum qualification information, your military leave is given full credit for the experience and service you would have accumulated had you not taken military leave. Military leave from public service will be recognized as if you had remained in the position you held at the time you entered military service.

Military Experience Counts as State Service for Promotional Exams

Veterans may apply for promotional exams. You may find promotional exams through your department once you are in civil service. As a reminder, Veterans’ Preference is not granted for promotional exams. Pursuant to Government Code Section 18991 veteran’s related military experience shall be considered State civil experience in a class deemed comparable by CalHR. This means that you may count your applicable military service as State service for the minimum qualifications required in a promotional exam.