Veterans Preference Calculator
Determine your veterans preference category (TP, CP, CPS, XP, or SSP), how many points are added to your exam score, and what documents you need when applying for federal jobs.
The only tool with a complete decision tree + effective score
Active Duty Service
Did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces under honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge?
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The five preference categories at a glance
All five categories are determined at application time using your DD-214, VA rating documentation, and SF-15 as applicable.
| Code | Category | Key Requirement | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPS | 10-Point Compensable (30%+) | Service-connected disability rated 30%+ (compensable) | Top of highest quality category (or top of certificate under Rule of Many) |
| CP | 10-Point Compensable (10–29%) | Service-connected disability rated 10–29% (compensable) | Top of highest quality category (or top of certificate under Rule of Many) |
| XP | 10-Point Other | Purple Heart; 0% non-compensable disability; or derived preference (spouse/widow/parent) | Ahead of non-veterans within their quality category |
| TP | 5-Point Tentative | Qualifying service period — no disability required | Ahead of non-veterans within their quality category |
| SSP | 0-Point Sole Survivorship | Sole survivorship discharge (after Aug 29, 2008) | Ahead of non-preference eligibles at the same score level; full pass-over protection |
How preference points work — and the Rule of Many
Preference points are added to a passing examination score under 5 U.S.C. § 3309. The minimum passing score is typically 70. A veteran who scores 65 and has 10-point preference still has a score of 65 — preference cannot convert a failing score to a passing score.
The OPM final rule “Reinvigorating Merit-Based Hiring Through Candidate Ranking” (Federal Register, September 8, 2025) restored numerical ranking as the primary competitive service hiring method — replacing category rating for most competitive service positions. Under the Rule of Many:
- All applicants receive a validated numerical assessment score.
- Preference points (5 or 10) are added to passing scores before the hiring certificate is issued.
- Candidates are listed on the certificate in ranked numerical order.
- CP and CPS veterans are placed at the top of the certificate, ahead of all others regardless of score.
Gulf War example: TP (5-point) in practice
A veteran served on active duty August 15 – December 20, 1990. This falls entirely within the Gulf War qualifying period (August 2, 1990 – January 2, 1992) under 5 U.S.C. § 2108(1)(C) — no minimum days requirement for this specific window. With an honorable discharge and no service-connected disability:
Under category rating: listed ahead of non-veterans in the same quality tier.
No SF-15 required for 5-point preference — only DD-214 (Member Copy 4). Claim preference on USAJOBS when submitting the application.
Derived preference: for spouses, widows, and parents
Veterans preference can pass to a qualifying family member in limited circumstances when the veteran's own preference is exhausted or unavailable. All derived preference is 10-point XP.
Spouse derived preference applies when the veteran is living with a service-connected disability but is unable to qualify for a federal position in their usual occupation because of that disability. If the veteran can qualify for federal employment, the spouse cannot claim derived preference — the veteran should use their own preference.
Widow/widower derived preference applies when the veteran is deceased, the widow/widower was married at the time of death, and has not remarried (or any remarriage was annulled). The veteran must have served during a qualifying war or campaign.
Parent derived preference (mother or father) has two sub-types under 5 U.S.C. § 2108(3)(F)–(G): parent of a deceased veteran who died in qualifying service, or parent of a living veteran with a permanent total service-connected disability. Both sub-types have specific marital status conditions. Review SF-15 instructions and OPM's Veteran Family Members page carefully.