Veterans Preference Information

Upon request, veterans hiring preference shall be applied to honorably discharged veterans as defined in Iowa Code Chapter 35.1. Former members of the Reserve Forces or Iowa National Guard who served at least 20 years after January 28, 1973, are eligible. Reserve Forces or Iowa National Guard veterans who were activated for federal duty, other than training, for a minimum of 90 days and were discharged under honorable conditions or retired under Title 10, United States Code, are eligible.

Quick Links

5 points
10 points
Veterans Employment Representative
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

5 Points

In order to obtain 5 preference points, veterans must provide proof of eligibility in the form of a photocopy of a DD Form 214 (Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge) or other official document containing dates of service or a listing of service medals and campaign badges. The MEMBER 1 copy of the DD-214 does not meet this requirement because it does not provide the Character of Service. Any of the other seven copies of the DD-214 should suffice. You can request a current copy of your DD-214 here: https://www.archives.gov/veterans and select Request Military Records Online.

If you are still serving on regular active duty, you must include an original statement of service signed by the commander of your unit or higher headquarters which identifies you, provides your date of entry on your current active duty period, the characterization of your service, and your anticipated retirement or discharge date. You should then provide your final DD-214 to us in order to update your record.

If you are currently serving in or were discharged from the Selected Reserves or the National Guard, you must include copies of adequate documentation showing your 20 years of service, characterization of service, and any campaign medals. If you were discharged from the Army or Air Force National Guard, you may submit NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service. Unfortunately, there is no single form used by the Reserves or National Guard similar to the DD Form 214. It is your responsibility to furnish adequate documentation with enough detail to show proof of 20 years of service as required in Iowa Code Chapter 35C.

10 Points

Veterans with a service-connected disability, a Purple Heart, or who are receiving disability compensation or pension through the U.S. Veterans Administration may also request veterans' preference. Proof of service-connected disability from the Veterans Administration must be submitted. To locate your disability documents, contact your local VA office or visit the web site at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage.

Please do not include your Social Security Number on any documents that are submitted as proof of service.

Documents should be submitted via email to DASHRE.info@iowa.gov or faxed to 515-281-7970.

You may also send your documents to:

Department of Administrative Services, Division of Human Resources
Hoover State Office Building
1305 E. Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0150
Attn: Employment Team

Your document will not be returned to you.

To be considered for points for a current job vacancy, all documents must be received in this office not later than the day of the post close date. Documents received after the post close date will be applied to future vacancies only.

Please Note: Iowa veterans hiring preference for state, county, and municipal positions DIFFERS from the federal veterans hiring preference. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Veterans Employment Representative

Iowa is committed to providing quality employment services to veterans. Employment Services has a dedicated veterans employment representative to assist veterans:

Conduct productive job searches
Access job listings
Develop job interviewing and resume writing skills
Help place eligible veterans in federally-funded employment and training programs
Monitor job listings from federal agencies and federal contractors to ensure veterans get priority service in referral to these jobs
Provide intensive services to meet the employment needs of eligible veterans

For assistance, please contact Jamie Norton at jamie.norton@iwd.iowa.gov, or by phone at 515-725-5452.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can a driver’s license with a Veteran designation or a VA ID be used for proof of service for Veterans Preference?
No. Iowa Administrative Code requires either a DD Form 214 or another official document that shows dates of service and the characterization of the service. Government IDs do not provide enough detail for us to make a determination.

Can I submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference in order to receive my Iowa veterans hiring preference?
No. Federal veterans preference rules and forms are different from those provided for in the Iowa Code. A letter from the Veterans Administration should be provided in order to claim 10 veteran hiring preference points in Iowa. Additionally, proof of a Purple Heart will also suffice.

Are spouses of veterans entitled to veterans hiring preference in Iowa?
No. Iowa veterans preference rules differ from the Federal rules and spouses of veterans are not entitled to veterans hiring preference in Iowa.

Are parents of veterans entitled to veterans hiring preference in Iowa?
No. Iowa veterans preference rules differ from the Federal rules and parents of veterans are not entitled to veterans hiring preference in Iowa.

Does an uncharacterized discharge qualify for veterans hiring preference?
No. Iowa Code specifically requires the service to be characterized as “honorable”. Uncharacterized discharges are typically given in cases when a member is separated from active duty for training prior to completing 180 days of service. Uncharacterized discharge or periods of service that show no characterization cannot be qualifying for veterans hiring preference in Iowa. Any characterization less than “honorable” cannot be qualifying for veterans hiring preference in Iowa.

Does a general discharge qualify for veterans hiring preference?
No. Iowa Code specifically requires the service to be characterized as “honorable”. Any characterization less than “honorable” cannot be qualifying for veterans hiring preference in Iowa.

I’ve been awarded 5 or 10 point veterans hiring preference for Federal vacancies. Does this automatically qualify me for veterans hiring preference in Iowa?
No. Iowa veterans hiring preference rules differ from the Federal rules. You still need to provide proper documentation to receive Iowa veterans hiring preference.

Does veterans hiring preference in Iowa mean I automatically receive a job interview?
No. Veterans hiring preference only provides that the hiring authority provides you with preference points. Even with these preference points you may still not be the most qualified applicant and may not receive an interview.

Where can I find additional help for veteran employment?
Iowa Workforce Development provides a variety of services to help veterans become employed. Please go to any one of their IowaWORKS locations to receive services. You may also contact them directly by email: IWD_Veterans@iwd.iowa.gov.

Does veterans hiring preference apply only to State jobs?
No. Iowa Code 35C.1 specifies veterans hiring preference applies to, “every public department and upon all public works in the state, and of the counties, cities, and school corporations of the state.” Contact the hiring authority for additional details of how to request veterans hiring preference.

I can’t find my military or Veterans Administration paperwork. What can I do?
For military records, you may go to https://www.archives.gov/veterans and select Request Military Records Online. For Veterans Administration (VA) paperwork, contact your nearest VA office or visit the web site at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage to request your disability letter. In addition, each county in Iowa has a Veteran County Service Officer (CSO). The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs provides a list of all CSOs, here: https://va.iowa.gov/counties. Additional information from the department can be found on their website.

Updated 12/03/2018