Federal civil-service hiring preference for disabled veterans
Veterans with a compensable service-connected rating may be eligible for 10-point preference in federal hiring, verify with OPM or the hiring agency.
CP and CPS: two rating bands, one 10-point preference
Veterans with a compensable service-connected rating may be eligible for 10-point preference in federal competitive hiring. The Office of Personnel Management groups this by rating: CP covers compensable ratings of at least 10% but under 30%, and CPS covers ratings of 30% or higher.
Both add 10 points, but CPS carries more: placement at the top of category referral lists and a separate noncompetitive appointment path agencies can use for veterans rated 30% or higher. A further category, XP, can grant 10-point preference in some cases below 10%, so the preference system does not begin and end with these two bands.
Who decides, and how to verify
OPM sets the rules and the hiring agency applies them to a specific announcement. Preference is claimed in the application with supporting documentation. Verify the current requirements with OPM or the hiring agency for the job you are applying to.
See it next to everything else your rating may open
The Benefits Explorer lists this program beside the rest of the federal set, and your state’s verified programs, keyed to your combined rating. Educational only. Every program is decided by the agency named on it.