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Ten Points at the County, City or School District — Fifteen If You Are Disabled

Minnesota's veterans preference reaches beyond state jobs. Counties, home rule charter and statutory cities, towns, school districts and other political subdivisions must add 10 points to a veteran's score on an open examination, and 15 points for a disabled veteran. A disabled veteran also gets 5 points on a first promotional examination. Where a school does not use a 100-point rating at all, it must instead GRANT AN INTERVIEW to a qualifying veteran applicant — which is the provision worth knowing, because most local hiring is not scored.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Minnesota's veterans preference reaches beyond state jobs. Counties, home rule charter and statutory cities, towns, school districts and other political subdivisions must add 10 points to a veteran's score on an open examination, and 15 points for a disabled veteran. A disabled veteran also gets 5 points on a first promotional examination. Where a school does not use a 100-point rating at all, it must instead GRANT AN INTERVIEW to a qualifying veteran applicant — which is the provision worth knowing, because most local hiring is not scored.

What it's worth: 10 points on an open examination, 15 if disabled; an interview where there is no scored exam

  • It binds counties, home rule charter and statutory cities, towns, school districts and other municipalities and political subdivisions.
  • 10 points for a non-disabled veteran on an open examination.
  • 15 points for a disabled veteran on an open examination.
  • 5 points for a disabled veteran on a FIRST PROMOTIONAL examination.
  • Where a school does not use a 100-point rating, it must GRANT AN INTERVIEW to a qualifying veteran applicant.
  • The residency test is not established from the sources reviewed. The statute turns on the position, not on where you live.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • Your discharge was under honorable conditions.
  • You are applying for a public position.
  • Minnesota local government.

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. 1Claim the preference on the application form. It is not applied unless claimed.
  2. 2Attach a copy of the DD214 showing the character of discharge.
  3. 3If disabled, attach the VA letter too — that is the difference between 10 points and 15.
  4. 4If the employer does not use a scored examination, ask specifically about the interview provision rather than accepting a rejection.
  5. 5If it appears not to have been applied, raise it with the hiring authority before the appointment is made.
Form
Claimed on the local government application
File with
The hiring county, city, town or school district
Documents you will need
dd214 · va benefit summary letter
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe interview provision is the one to remember. Most local hiring is not scored, so points would otherwise be worth nothing.

Sources

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