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Preference Points in State Civil Service Exams

In open competitive state recruitment, a veteran receives 5 preference points on a DD214 showing honorable service — or 10 points on a VA or armed-service statement, dated within the past twelve months, confirming qualification for the 10-point preference.

Verified August 23, 2026

What this benefit is

In open competitive state recruitment, a veteran receives 5 preference points on a DD214 showing honorable service — or 10 points on a VA or armed-service statement, dated within the past twelve months, confirming qualification for the 10-point preference.

What it's worth: 5 or 10 points added in open competitive state recruitment

  • The points apply to open competitive recruitments only — internal vacancy announcements follow their own rules.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are a veteran with service the papers can show.
  • You are applying in this state.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1For 5 points, submit a copy of the DD214 (Member 4) verifying the dates of honorable service with the application.
  2. 2For 10 points, submit an official statement or letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the armed service, dated within the past 12 months, confirming qualification for the 10-point preference.
  3. 3The points apply in OPEN COMPETITIVE recruitments only, and the application counts as incomplete until the supporting document is on file — the announcement lists "documentation of veteran status" among the papers that complete it.
Form
Online application through the state civil service jobs portal, with the veterans document attached
File with
Department of Human Resources Development, State Recruiting Office
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingHRS §76-103 names the beneficiaries — veterans, disabled veterans, spouses of disabled veterans, and unremarried surviving spouses of deceased servicemembers — but leaves the extent of the preference to rules. The 5/10-point scheme is the department's published implementation; the compiled administrative rule (HAR 14-3.1) is a scanned image with no extractable text, so the announcement attachment is the readable authority.
CorrectionThe 10-point letter has a shelf life the summaries skip: the VA or armed-service statement must be dated within the past twelve months, so a years-old award letter earns only the 5-point tier until refreshed.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.