COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment within state agencies and institutions.  The South Carolina Department of Administration has announced that effective January 1, 2021, honorably discharged members of the United States Armed Forces who are given employment preference by the United States Government will be given preference for appointment and employment in every state government agency and higher education institution.

To qualify for the Veteran’s Preference, job applicants must submit the following:

• DD Form 214 /Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
• State Application for employment to the appointing authority

Those persons claiming Veteran status without accompanying documentation (DD Form 214), will not receive preference.

In keeping with this process, hiring state agencies and institutions must interview at least one qualified Veteran for every full time equivalent (FTE) positioned posted. 

Eligible Veterans must meet the minimum training and experience requirements for the position and must be capable of performing the duties assigned to the position with or without a reasonable accommodation. ​

If there are no qualified Veteran applicants for the position and/or no Veteran applicants who meet the training and experience requirements for the position, the requirement to interview a Veteran does not apply and the state agency or institution is under no further obligation under this preference.

For more information please visit the South Carolina Department of Administration’s Veteran Hiring Toolkit (PDF).