Nevada Veteran’s Benefits

Find Nevada State and local veteran’s benefits including education, employment, healthcare, tax breaks/exemptions, recreation and much more below. There are over 220,000 veterans residing in The Silver State.

Nevada State Veteran Education Benefits

Nevada Non-Resident Tuition Exemption for Active Duty Members, Spouses and Dependents

Active duty military stationed in Nevada, plus spouses and dependent children, may qualify for in-state tuition rates. In cases where there is a permanent change of duty station outside the State of Nevada, spouses and dependent children remain classified as Nevada residents for tuition purposes. This is status remains as “long as they remain continuously enrolled at an NSHE institution” according to the Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS).

Nevada Non-Resident Tuition Exemption for Veterans Serving on Active Duty in Nevada when Discharged

Honorably discharged veterans and on active duty stationed in Nevada at the time of discharge (including the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, California according to NVDS) are charged tuition as in-state residents.

Nevada Non-Resident Tuition Exemption for Out-of-State Veterans

The 2013 Nevada Legislature passed a law exempting honorably discharged veterans within “the two years immediately preceding the date of matriculation” from non-resident tuition.

Nevada Grant-In-Aid for the Family of a Member Killed in the Line of Duty

This grant is for “financially dependent” children and/or spouses of an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after PCSing to the State of Nevada. This grant-in-aid is defined by the State of Nevada as a financial award with no expectation of repayment.

Nevada National Guard Fee Waiver

Active members of the Nevada National Guard, dependent children, and qualifying military spouses are eligible for a registration fee waiver for higher education. This program excludes programs at certain higher learning institutions including:

• William S. Boyd School of Law
• University of Nevada School of Medicine
• UNLV School of Dental Medicine

These three programs are not eligible for this Nevada National Guard Fee waiver program.

POW/MIA Benefits for Children and Spouse

Children and spouses of a military member permanently stationed in Nevada who has been declared a Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) may be eligible to register for similar registration fee waivers mentioned above.

Dependent children are permitted to apply for this waiver until age 28, or ten years after the date of enrollment if the dependent is under the age of 18 at application time. Spouses have up to ten years from the date on which the member was identified as a prisoner of war or missing in action to use this fee waiver program.

The same restrictions apply to programs associated with the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, and the UNLV School of Dental Medicine.

The Nevada State Millennium Scholarship

In general, Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship recipients have up to six academic years after their high school graduation date to take advantage of their scholarship award. An extension is available for qualifying military dependent children “equal to time served, but not to exceed six years.”

This extension must be applied for and is not automatically granted. Learn more by downloading the Application for Extension of Scholarship Expiration Date, available at the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office official site.

Operation Recognition: The Nevada State High School Diploma Program for Veterans

Operation Recognition was passed in 2003, allowing Nevada School Districts to issue a standard high school diploma to veterans who served during World War Two through Vietnam (between Sept. 16, 1940 and May 7, 1975).

The veteran, next-of-kin, or guardians of disabled veteran can fill out an application on the veteran’s behalf. High school diplomas can be awarded posthumously under Operation Recognition.

Nevada State Veteran Employment Benefits

Nevada State Hiring Preference for Veterans

State hiring preference is available to active duty military, members of the Nevada Guard, plus surviving spouses. Nevada state law requires applicants to declare intent to use veterans’ preference points at the time of the job application. Proof of eligibility as a veteran must be submitted at the application time.

State hiring preferences are offered to active duty veterans and qualifying members of the Nevada National Guard. Standard hiring preference equals five points; disabled applicants may be eligible for 10 preference points.

According to Nevada State law, anyone who qualifies for preference points “is entitled to have the points applied to any open competitive examination in the classified service, but only to one promotional examination.”

Nevada State Veteran Housing Benefits

The ODVA Home Loan Program

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan Program (ODVA) offers qualifying veterans fixed-rate financing for owner-occupied primary residences. Federal VA home loans feature no VA-specified loan limit, but the ODVA program provides home loans to veterans for purchases up to the Fannie Mae loan limit for the area.

Southern Nevada State Veterans Home (SNSVH): Boulder City, NV

Since 2003, the Nevada State Veterans’ Home in Boulder City has provided services to eligible veterans, Gold Star families, and spouses. This facility houses 180 residents in three living units and provides 24-hour skilled nursing care with a clinical team.

Admission requirements include a military discharge characterized as anything but Dishonorable. There should be medical need-based care such as a demonstrated need for 24-hour nursing services. Certain types of conditions are not treatable at this facility including intravenous delivery of narcotic pain medication, ventilators, dialysis, etc.

This facility provides fee-based care and the ability to pay must be verified as a condition of admission to the Veterans’ Home.

Northern Nevada State Veterans Home (NNSVH): Sparks, NV

NNSVH is a 102,000 square foot facility and has 96 beds and features a host of amenities. Veterans have their own private room and share a den, living room and kitchen with 15 other residents. A “Town Hall” has a restaurant, coffee bistro, sports bar, therapy gym, beauty/barber shop, general commissary store as well as parade grounds for military and patriotic ceremonies.

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Nevada State Veteran Financial Benefits

Nevada Property Tax Exemptions for Qualifying Veterans and Surviving Spouses

There are a number of Nevada State property tax exemptions for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses. The exemption amount should be applied to the next year’s tax bill on real property the veteran or spouse owns.

This exemption is also valid for “any personal property (which includes business personal property, aircraft or manufactured housing) at any time during the year, prior to payment of taxes” according to the official site of the Clark County, Nevada Tax Assessor’s Office.

Tax exemptions include:

• The Nevada State Property Tax Exemption for Veterans is open to qualifying active duty, Guard or Reserve members who served a minimum of 90 continuous days of active duty of which at least one day was between:

1. April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918
2. Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946
3. June 25, 1950 to May 7, 1975
4. Sept. 26, 1982 to Dec. 1, 1987
5. Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990
6. Aug. 2, 1990 to April 11, 1991
7. Dec. 5, 1992 to March 31, 1994
8. Nov. 20, 1995 to Dec. 20, 1996

Veterans are also eligible if they served on active duty in connection with a campaign or expedition for service in which a medal was authorized by the government of the United States. Apply for this tax break with a valid Nevada driver’s license or ID card, DD214 or other discharge paperwork, plus documentation showing Nevada as the home of record.

• The State of Nevada Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption is for those with a valid Nevada Driver’s License or Nevada Identification Card. The military member’s death certificate is required at application time.
• The State of Nevada Disabled Veterans’ Exemption is available for qualifying veterans with a VA-rated disability of 60% or higher; the amount of exemption is “dependent upon the degree of disability incurred.”

Apply for this Nevada veterans’ tax exemption with a valid Nevada driver’s license or Nevada ID Card plus discharge paperwork and documentation of the disability such as a VA award letter. This tax break for veterans is also open to surviving spouses of veterans who were eligible for the exemption at the time of death.

Nevada State Government Services Tax Breaks for Veterans Purchasing Vehicles

The State of Nevada offers Government Service tax breaks for qualifying veterans. Tax exemptions are possible depending on the dates of service and the County Assessor’s office is responsible for determining the amount of the tax exemption permitted depending on the nature of military service. The Assessor will determine the amount of the exemption and veterans will be given a receipt for the exemption which is submitted at vehicle registration time. These Nevada State Tax exemptions CANNOT applied after the vehicle registration or renewal is complete.

For these Nevada veteran tax breaks, VA-rated disabled veterans are eligible for exemptions based on the percentage of disability.

Additional Nevada State Veteran Benefits

Nevada State Military License Plates

Nevada provides discounted license plates to disabled veterans, Purple Heart awardees, Gold Star families, etc. These discounts apply to those who meet the specific criteria for each individual plate (Purple Heart, Gold Star family, ex-POW, etc.). Visit the Nevada DMV or contact a County Assessor’s office that offers vehicle registration services at that location.

Nevada State Recreational Benefits for Veterans

Currently serving military members (in-state or from out-of-state) may be eligible for discounted Nevada Department of Wildlife hunting and fishing licenses good for one year from the date of issue. Signed verification of residency and duty station may be required in some cases depending on the nature of military service and the amount of the discount.

Disabled Nevada veterans with VA rated disabilities of 10% may qualify for a permit offering unlimited entrance to all Nevada state parks with use of camping and boat launch facilities in the parks for one year. There is an annual fee associated with this permit. Apply by downloading the application and mail it to the address on the form.

Nevada Legal Benefits for Veterans

The Nevada Attorney General’s Office of Military Legal Assistance (OMLA) offers free / pro bono legal help and representation to qualifying active duty, Reserve, and National Guard service members.

This free service includes the creation of legal wills and powers of attorney. This is a statewide program “combining the joint efforts of legal aid organizations, private sponsors and the State Bar of Nevada” to help veterans get affordable legal representation.

Burial Benefits for Veterans

The State of Nevada operates two veterans’ cemeteries which are the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery and Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. These facilities are open to all qualifying veterans at no charge and there is a fee for burial of spouses.

There is no advance plot assignment service available, but pre-need registration is possible. This can be done with a copy of your discharge documents, pre-registration form, and any supporting documentation required such as a marriage certificate for spouses where applicable. Call 775-575-4441 for more information on fee-free pre-need registration.