Veterans Preference for State Jobs

Veteran with an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions who meets one of the qualifying paths under K.S.A. 73-201: received a campaign badge or medal, has a service-connected disability certified by the VA, is a Purple Heart recipient, or, if they entered service before October 15, 1976, served on active duty during a war, between April 28, 1952 and July 1, 1955, or for more than 180 consecutive days between January 31, 1955 and October 15, 1976 (later service such as Iraq or Afghanistan qualifies through the campaign badge or medal path). Officers who retired at pay grade O-4 or above are excluded unless they were combat-wounded or hold a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher. Also extends to spouses of 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, spouses of POWs, and surviving spouses (not remarried) of servicemembers who died in service.

Preference at each stage of the selection process for classified state positions; qualified veterans are offered an interview for Veterans Preference Eligible (VPE) vacancies, and preference beyond the interview is determined by the hiring agency and is not absolute.

Indicate veteran status when applying for Kansas state positions.