State Government Careers

Interested in working for the Commonwealth of Virginia? The Pathways to Careers team connects individuals with disabilities to meaningful employment opportunities—including careers in the state government workforce. Through an innovative partnership between DARS and Virginia's Department of Human Resource Management, our team is ready to help candidates with disabilities pursue public-sector employment—all while helping our state government workforce achieve its diversity, opportunity and inclusion goals.

Virginia's Alternative Hiring Process

Request an Alternative Hiring Process Letter

Thanks to the Alternative Hiring Process (AHP) enacted in 2021, Virginia state agencies can take advantage of a noncompetitive hiring process designed to advance the Commonwealth's commitment to equal employment opportunities for all.

A person applying for a state job through the AHP must be certified as an individual with a documented disability that results in a barrier to employment as determined by a DARS vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor. If approved, the counselor will provide an Alternative Hiring Process Letter to the individual who can then submit their letter along with their application for state employment.

Learn more about the AHP by visiting the following links:

Help Finding State Employment

You do not have to be a current participant in the DARS VR program to get an Alternative Hiring Process Letter. However, if you think you may benefit from our job placement and career counseling services, we'd love to tell you more about our offerings. You just might be eligible for the Pathways program, which can assist you in finding a state government position or a career in another high-growth industry!

Contact the Pathways team to learn more.

If you're a hiring manager from a Virginia state agency looking for qualified job candidates with disabilities—or need assistance retaining or advancing valued existing employees with disabilities—please contact:

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Sandra Phipps

(804) 688-5841

We offer free disability inclusion training to state agencies that can enhance your recruitment and hiring efforts.