• Veterans are given preference points based on predetermined criteria.
• Preference points are added to veteran's scores when competing for positions advertised for the public.
• Preference eligibles who meet the qualification requirements are assessed and placed in the appropriate quality category based on their score—Gold (best qualified), Silver (well qualified), and Bronze (qualified).
• Preference eligibles who meet the qualification requirements for the position and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the Gold category.

Allows federal agencies to appoint veterans to positions for which they qualify up to the GS-11 level without competition. After satisfactorily completing 2 years of service, the veteran will be converted noncompetitively to a career-conditional appointment.

Eligible veterans (if they received either an honorable or general discharge) for this appointment include:

• Disabled veterans.
• Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
• Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, participated in a U.S. military operation for which a U.S. Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded.
  
• Recently separated veterans.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans

Allows federal agencies to appoint veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more without competition. Eligible candidates may be appointed to any position for which they are qualified, at any grade level. An agency may give a noncompetitive temporary appointment of more than 60 days or a term appointment to any eligible veteran.  A term appointment is a nonstatus appointment to a position in the competitive service for a specified period exceeding 2 years and lasting no more than 4 years. Initial appointments are time-limited, however, the individual may be noncompetitively converted to permanent status at any time during the time-limited appointment.

Eligible veterans include:

• Retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more.
  
• Rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) within the preceding year as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent of more.

Allows eligible veterans to apply for vacancy announcements when a federal agency is accepting applications beyond its own workforce under merit promotion procedures.  The agency must include information concerning consideration under VEOA. Eligible veterans are not granted preference in the selection process but they are allowed to compete for job opportunities that are not open to the general public; those jobs are posted as a merit promotion or “internal” vacancy announcement.  A VEOA eligible who is selected will be given a career or career-conditional appointment.

Eligible veterans include:

• Veterans who are preference eligible (5- or 10-point).
  
• Veterans who separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Veterans who were released shortly before completing a 3-year tour may also be eligible.

Veterans can apply on USAJobs to Internal Merit Promotion (MP) announcements:

• On internal announcements veterans who are eligible for Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA) can apply under this authority. For internal announcements, veterans should submit their DD-214.
  

When applying as an eligible veteran you must ensure you respond to the eligibility questions correctly, for example:

• "Are you eligible for an appointment under a Special Hiring Appointing Authority?" Answer: "Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA)."

In order to be considered for a noncompetitive position, please refer to the list of needed documents provided below and send documents to the Selective Placement Program at census.schedule.a.hiring@census.gov.

• Submit an updated resume with cover letter stating the job series you wish to be considered.
• Provide a copy of your DD-214, page 4 (Member copy) identifying your honorable discharge from active duty.
• Provide your 30 percent or more veterans disability letter from the Veterans Administration, if applicable.
• Attach a copy of your transcripts, if applicable.
• E-mail all documents to census.schedule.a.hiring@census.gov.

Once entered into database, you will receive a confirmation e-mail notification. Resumes can be reviewed by all Census Bureau hiring managers that have access to the electronic hiring system database and that wish to fill their vacancies noncompetitively.

All federal jobs are posted on USAJOBS. You may search quickly for job postings by skill, department component, or state. Use the advanced search options on USAJOBS to further expand or refine your search for department careers. To view positions open to preference eligible veterans, select “Yes” under “Applicant Eligibility.”

Veterans can apply on USAJobs on the External Delegated Examining (DE) and Internal Merit Promotion (MP) announcements:

• On external announcements veterans receive preference (CPS, CP, XP, TP) by submitting their SF-15, DD-214, and VA Letter.
• On internal announcements veterans are eligible under noncompetitive appointment authorities such as Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) or 30 Percent Disabled Veteran. In addition, those veterans who are eligible for Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA) can apply under that authority. For internal announcements, veterans should submit the same documents above, except for the SF-15.

When applying as an eligible veteran you must ensure you respond to the eligibility questions correctly, for example:

• "Are you eligible for a noncompetitive appointment under a Special Hiring Appointing Authority?" Answer: "Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) or 30 Percent Disabled Veteran".