diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py
index ca85a68805..29fc871b58 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py
@@ -1257,7 +1257,7 @@ class TestAccountRetirementList(RetirementTestCase):
             except AttributeError:
                 states_to_request = states_to_request
 
-        data = {'cool_off_days': cool_off_days, 'states': ','.join(states_to_request)}
+        data = {'cool_off_days': cool_off_days, 'states': states_to_request}
         response = self.client.get(self.url, data, **self.headers)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, expected_status)
         response_data = response.json()
@@ -1285,6 +1285,18 @@ class TestAccountRetirementList(RetirementTestCase):
             self._create_retirement(state)
         self.assert_status_and_user_list([], states_to_request=self._get_non_dead_end_states())
 
+    def test_users_retrieved_in_multiple_states(self):
+        """
+        Verify that if multiple states are requested, learners in each state are returned.
+        """
+        multiple_states = ['PENDING', 'FORUMS_COMPLETE']
+        for state in multiple_states:
+            self._create_retirement(RetirementState.objects.get(state_name=state))
+        data = {'cool_off_days': 0, 'states': multiple_states}
+        response = self.client.get(self.url, data, **self.headers)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertEqual(len(response.json()), 2)
+
     def test_users_exist(self):
         """
         Verify users in different states are returned with correct data or filtered out
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/views.py
index aa068ae446..094f943114 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/views.py
@@ -442,11 +442,13 @@ class AccountRetirementView(ViewSet):
         """
         try:
             cool_off_days = int(request.GET['cool_off_days'])
-            states = request.GET['states'].split(',')
-
             if cool_off_days < 0:
                 raise RetirementStateError('Invalid argument for cool_off_days, must be greater than 0.')
 
+            states = request.GET.getlist('states')
+            if not states:
+                raise RetirementStateError('Param "states" required with at least one state.')
+
             state_objs = RetirementState.objects.filter(state_name__in=states)
             if state_objs.count() != len(states):
                 found = [s.state_name for s in state_objs]