VEOA, VRA and the 30% Disabled Authority Explained

These are appointment authorities, not preference. Preference improves your position in a competition; an authority changes which competition you are in.

VRA — Veterans Recruitment Appointment. Non-competitive appointment up to GS-11 or equivalent. The agency can hire you without running a competition. After 2 years of satisfactory service you must be converted, non-competitively, to a career or career-conditional appointment.

30% or More Disabled Veteran authority. Non-competitive appointment to any position you are qualified for, with no grade limit and no vacancy announcement required. This is the strongest of the three if you hold a rating of 30% or more.

VEOA — Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. This one is competitive, and its value is different: it lets you apply for merit promotion vacancies that would otherwise be open only to current federal employees. No grade limit. Note that under VEOA you are not given preference as a scoring factor — you are given access to the competition.

The practical read: if you have a 30% rating, lead with that authority. Below that, VRA up to GS-11. VEOA is how you reach roles advertised internally.

Who is eligible?

VRA: eligible veterans, with the appointment capped at GS-11 or equivalent.

30% or More Disabled: a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

VEOA: preference eligibles and certain other eligible veterans — the criteria are specific, and OPM's guidance is the authority.

All three sit alongside veterans' preference rather than replacing it, and an agency can consider you under more than one. Which to name in an application depends on the vacancy: an internally advertised role is a VEOA question, an open one may be a VRA or 30% question.

How do I apply?

  • Work out which authority fits the vacancy: Internally advertised means VEOA. Open competition with a 30% rating means the disabled authority is worth naming.
  • Say which one you're applying under: Agencies act on what you claim. An unclaimed authority is not applied for you.
  • Attach your rating letter for the 30% route: It is the whole basis of the authority.
  • Remember the VRA conversion: After 2 years of satisfactory service the agency must convert you non-competitively. Know that is coming.
  • Approach agency veteran employment coordinators directly: For the non-competitive authorities, a hiring manager can act without an announcement — which makes a direct approach more useful than it would be elsewhere.

Common questions

What is the difference between VEOA and VRA?

VRA is a non-competitive appointment capped at GS-11 — the agency can hire you without a competition. VEOA is competitive with no grade cap, and its value is letting you apply for merit promotion vacancies otherwise open only to current federal employees.

What can you do with a 30% disability rating in federal hiring?

An agency can appoint you non-competitively to any position you are qualified for, with no grade limit and no vacancy announcement.

Does VEOA give you extra points?

No. Under VEOA you are not given preference as a scoring factor — you are given access to a competition that would otherwise exclude you.

What happens after two years on a VRA appointment?

The agency must convert you non-competitively to a career or career-conditional appointment, provided your service has been satisfactory.

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