St. Petersburg, Florida veteran employment help: priority of service, hiring preferences, VR&E training, and free job placement near you.
St. Petersburg (population 258,308) is one of the larger metros in Florida, and several local and statewide programs serve veterans here. Most VA-administered care for St. Petersburg is delivered through C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center (Bay Pines). This page lists verified employment resources filtered to St. Petersburg, plus the broader Florida guide for help that is available statewide.
Veterans in crisis: dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net (24/7).
Florida offers several practical paths to work if you are a veteran or helping one: statewide job-search help through CareerSource centers, dedicated veteran specialists through FL VETS, veterans' hiring preference for many public-sector jobs, faster routes into some licenses and credentials, and VA employment help for veterans with service-connected disabilities. If you need help now, start by contacting FL VETS through the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs at (727) 319-7400 or the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs at 1-844-693-5838.
You can also go directly to a local CareerSource center, where veterans receive priority of service and can ask for a Veterans' Employment Representative, a Local Veterans' Employment Representative, or a Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program specialist.
Student Veterans of America (SVA) recognized chapters at colleges and universities in the St.
Petersburg area. SVA chapters provide peer support, advocacy, and connections to GI Bill, scholarship, and career resources.
Department of Education-funded TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program serving St.
Petersburg-area veterans. Free academic refresher courses, college application help, financial aid guidance, and transition support for postsecondary success.
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and certifying-official support for GI Bill students at community and technical colleges in the St.
Petersburg area. Help with VA Form 22-1995, Yellow Ribbon, and credit-for-prior-learning evaluations.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31, VR&E) services for service-connected St.
Petersburg veterans pursuing employment, self-employment, or independent living. Tuition, fees, books, and a monthly subsistence allowance may be covered.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Hiring Our Heroes runs hiring fairs, employer fellowships, and corporate fellowship cohorts open to St.
Petersburg-area transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses.
Department of Labor American Job Center serving St.
Petersburg veterans. Priority of service, Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) staffing, training referrals, and resume support.
These Florida programs are not based in St. Petersburg but accept residents.
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and certifying-official support for GI Bill students at community and technical colleges in the Tampa area.
Help with VA Form 22-1995, Yellow Ribbon, and credit-for-prior-learning evaluations.
Department of Education-funded TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program serving Tallahassee-area veterans.
Free academic refresher courses, college application help, financial aid guidance, and transition support for postsecondary success.
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and certifying-official support for GI Bill students at community and technical colleges in the Tallahassee area.
Help with VA Form 22-1995, Yellow Ribbon, and credit-for-prior-learning evaluations.
Department of Education-funded TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program serving Jacksonville-area veterans.
Free academic refresher courses, college application help, financial aid guidance, and transition support for postsecondary success.
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and certifying-official support for GI Bill students at community and technical colleges in the Pensacola area.
Help with VA Form 22-1995, Yellow Ribbon, and credit-for-prior-learning evaluations.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31, VR&E) services for service-connected Pensacola veterans pursuing employment, self-employment, or independent living.
Tuition, fees, books, and a monthly subsistence allowance may be covered.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31, VR&E) services for service-connected Tallahassee veterans pursuing employment, self-employment, or independent living.
Tuition, fees, books, and a monthly subsistence allowance may be covered.
Student Veterans of America (SVA) recognized chapters at colleges and universities in the Orlando area.
SVA chapters provide peer support, advocacy, and connections to GI Bill, scholarship, and career resources.
Start with the resources listed on this page, which are filtered to St. Petersburg and the surrounding Florida area. If you do not see what you need, expand to the full Florida employment guide or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 for an immediate referral.
Veterans in St. Petersburg are typically served by C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center (Bay Pines). Call 1-877-222-8387 or visit VA.gov/find-locations to confirm the right campus, clinic hours, and what services are offered before you travel.
Most listed resources are free or low-cost for eligible veterans. Eligibility, copays, and waitlists vary by program, so confirm cost and required documents (DD-214, VA award letter, proof of residency) when you call.
