1. Enroll
Sign up online to join the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program at https://v3.dvs.virginia.gov/user/enrollment
2. Onboard
Begin your organization’s journey toward earning V3 Certification by attending the V3 Core Curriculum Course – the first required step in the certification process. Once completed, you can move on to the remaining four courses needed to fulfill your V3 Membership. These additional courses may be taken in any order and can be completed while you gather the rest of your certification documents.
Each course is just 45 minutes and offers SHRM and HRCI credits, making it easy to fit professional development into your schedule. Anyone from your organization may attend, and you’re welcome to participate as many times as you’d like for a training refresher.
Register for an upcoming training online and take the next step toward becoming a V3 Certified Employer.
3. Determine a Designation
Strengthen your organization’s path toward V3 Certification by completing the V3 Internal Audit, a practical tool designed to help you become more veteran‑friendly. This step allows you to identify your company’s priorities and determine which services, resources, or programs to pursue next through the V3 Program.
Using the insights from your audit, you can confidently decide which V3 Certification designation best aligns with your organization’s goals and commitment to supporting the military community. Designation options include:
- Direct employment
- Occupational Career Pathways
- Training Provider
- Force Extender
4. Set Goals
As part of the V3 Certification process, employers are required to establish engagement goals that outline how they will participate in career‑readiness, networking, hiring, and professional development events. These activities create direct connections with military‑affiliated job seekers and strengthen your organization’s presence within the veteran talent pipeline.
Employers also set hiring goals for the specific military‑connected populations they aim to recruit, hire, train, or retain. This may include transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, caregivers, and dependents.
Finally, organizations may choose to set retention goals for these same groups. Tracking retention helps us evaluate whether our collective efforts related to cultural, professional development, engagement, technical, and, when applicable, financial support efforts are effectively creating a workplace where military‑connected employees can thrive.
5. Showcase Organizational Leadership Commitment
As part of the V3 Certification process, employers are asked to provide a leadership letter of support, a simple but meaningful way to show that your organization’s commitment to the military community starts at the top. This endorsement reinforces that your leadership team is invested in the goals of the V3 Program and is prepared to provide the support, tools, and resources needed to create lasting, meaningful impact.
This step helps ensure your internal efforts are aligned, empowered, and positioned for success as you move forward in building a veteran‑ready workplace.