diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py b/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
index 0bc46f80cb..89f802c28d 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
@@ -23,18 +23,6 @@ from student.models import CourseEnrollmentAllowed
 from util.password_policy_validators import validate_password_strength
 
 
-USERNAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG = _("Username must be minimum of two characters long")
-USERNAME_TOO_LONG_MSG = _("Username cannot be more than %(limit_value)s characters long")
-
-# Translators: This message is shown when the Unicode usernames are NOT allowed
-USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII = _("Usernames can only contain Roman letters, western numerals (0-9), "
-                                 "underscores (_), and hyphens (-).")
-
-# Translators: This message is shown only when the Unicode usernames are allowed
-USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE = _("Usernames can only contain letters, numerals, underscore (_), numbers "
-                                   "and @/./+/-/_ characters.")
-
-
 class PasswordResetFormNoActive(PasswordResetForm):
     error_messages = {
         'unknown': _("That e-mail address doesn't have an associated "
@@ -127,12 +115,12 @@ def validate_username(username):
 
     username_re = slug_re
     flags = None
-    message = USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII
+    message = accounts_settings.USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII
 
     if settings.FEATURES.get("ENABLE_UNICODE_USERNAME"):
         username_re = r"^{regex}$".format(regex=settings.USERNAME_REGEX_PARTIAL)
         flags = re.UNICODE
-        message = USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE
+        message = accounts_settings.USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE
 
     validator = RegexValidator(
         regex=username_re,
@@ -156,9 +144,9 @@ class UsernameField(forms.CharField):
             min_length=accounts_settings.USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH,
             max_length=accounts_settings.USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
             error_messages={
-                "required": USERNAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG,
-                "min_length": USERNAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG,
-                "max_length": USERNAME_TOO_LONG_MSG,
+                "required": accounts_settings.USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG,
+                "min_length": accounts_settings.USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG,
+                "max_length": accounts_settings.USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG,
             }
         )
 
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py
index 7eb9b55772..da11e8e1a6 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ from notification_prefs import NOTIFICATION_PREF_KEY
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.external_auth.models import ExternalAuthMap
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.lang_pref import LANGUAGE_KEY
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration.tests.mixins import SiteMixin
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts import (
+    USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG, USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII, USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE
+)
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.preferences.api import get_user_preference
-from student.forms import USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII, USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE
 from student.models import UserAttribute
 from student.views import REGISTRATION_AFFILIATE_ID, REGISTRATION_UTM_CREATED_AT, REGISTRATION_UTM_PARAMETERS
 
@@ -476,16 +478,16 @@ class TestCreateAccountValidation(TestCase):
 
         # Missing
         del params["username"]
-        assert_username_error("Username must be minimum of two characters long")
+        assert_username_error(USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG)
 
         # Empty, too short
         for username in ["", "a"]:
             params["username"] = username
-            assert_username_error("Username must be minimum of two characters long")
+            assert_username_error(USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG)
 
         # Too long
         params["username"] = "this_username_has_31_characters"
-        assert_username_error("Username cannot be more than 30 characters long")
+        assert_username_error(USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG)
 
         # Invalid
         params["username"] = "invalid username"
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_long_username_email.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_long_username_email.py
index b1e15adbbf..f949440ba2 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_long_username_email.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_long_username_email.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import json
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.test import TestCase
 
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts import USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG
+
 
 class TestLongUsernameEmail(TestCase):
 
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ class TestLongUsernameEmail(TestCase):
         obj = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(
             obj['value'],
-            "Username cannot be more than 30 characters long",
+            USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG,
         )
 
     def test_long_email(self):
diff --git a/common/static/common/js/utils/edx.utils.validate.js b/common/static/common/js/utils/edx.utils.validate.js
index a6af7aedff..94dff74add 100644
--- a/common/static/common/js/utils/edx.utils.validate.js
+++ b/common/static/common/js/utils/edx.utils.validate.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
                 var _fn = {
                     validate: {
 
-                        template: _.template('<li><%= content %></li>'),
+                        template: _.template('<li><%- content %></li>'),
 
                         msg: {
                             email: gettext("The email address you've provided isn't formatted correctly."),
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
                             regex: new RegExp(
                             [
                                 '(^[-!#$%&\'*+/=?^_`{}|~0-9A-Z]+(\\.[-!#$%&\'*+/=?^_`{}|~0-9A-Z]+)*',
-                                '|^"([\\001-\\010\\013\\014\\016-\\037!#-\\[\\]-\\177]|\\\\[\\001-\\011\\013\\014\\016-\\177])*"',
+                                '|^"([\\001-\\010\\013\\014\\016-\\037!#-\\[\\]-\\177]|\\\\[\\001-\\011\\013\\014\\016-\\177])*"', // eslint-disable-line max-len
                                 ')@((?:[A-Z0-9](?:[A-Z0-9-]{0,61}[A-Z0-9])?\\.)+[A-Z]{2,6}\\.?$)',
                                 '|\\[(25[0-5]|2[0-4]\\d|[0-1]?\\d?\\d)(\\.(25[0-5]|2[0-4]\\d|[0-1]?\\d?\\d)){3}\\]$'
                             ].join(''), 'i'
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
 
                         getLabel: function(id) {
                         // Extract the field label, remove the asterisk (if it appears) and any extra whitespace
-                            return $('label[for=' + id + ']').text().split('*')[0].trim();
+                            return $('label[for=' + id + '] > span.label-text').text().split('*')[0].trim();
                         },
 
                         getMessage: function($el, tests) {
@@ -132,16 +132,21 @@
                                 label,
                                 context,
                                 content,
-                                customMsg;
+                                customMsg,
+                                liveValidationMsg;
 
                             _.each(tests, function(value, key) {
                                 if (!value) {
                                     label = _fn.validate.getLabel($el.attr('id'));
                                     customMsg = $el.data('errormsg-' + key) || false;
+                                    liveValidationMsg =
+                                        $('#' + $el.attr('id') + '-validation-error-msg').text() || false;
 
                                 // If the field has a custom error msg attached, use it
                                     if (customMsg) {
                                         content = customMsg;
+                                    } else if (liveValidationMsg) {
+                                        content = liveValidationMsg;
                                     } else {
                                         context = {field: label};
 
@@ -154,7 +159,9 @@
                                         content = _.sprintf(_fn.validate.msg[key], context);
                                     }
 
-                                    txt.push(_fn.validate.template({content: content}));
+                                    txt.push(_fn.validate.template({
+                                        content: content
+                                    }));
                                 }
                             });
 
@@ -173,7 +180,7 @@
                 return {
                     validate: _fn.validate.field
                 };
-            })();
+            }());
 
             return utils;
         });
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms.py b/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms.py
index 116068681a..b0ef31309d 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms.py
@@ -344,10 +344,7 @@ class RegisterFromCombinedPageTest(UniqueCourseTest):
         # Verify that the expected errors are displayed.
         errors = self.register_page.wait_for_errors()
         self.assertIn(u'Please enter your Public Username.', errors)
-        self.assertIn(
-            u'You must agree to the édX Terms of Service and Honor Code',
-            errors
-        )
+        self.assertIn(u'You must agree to the édX Terms of Service and Honor Code', errors)
         self.assertIn(u'Please select your Country.', errors)
         self.assertIn(u'Please tell us your favorite movie.', errors)
 
diff --git a/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/django.po b/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
index 5ec35013b9..fbf7872c49 100644
--- a/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+++ b/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: 0.1a\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: openedx-translation@googlegroups.com\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2017-08-01 21:22+0000\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2017-08-01 21:22:49.685108\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2017-08-02 12:48+0000\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2017-08-02 12:48:04.261143\n"
 "Last-Translator: \n"
 "Language-Team: openedx-translation <openedx-translation@googlegroups.com>\n"
 "MIME-Version: 1.0\n"
@@ -330,31 +330,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "User profile"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
-msgid "Username must be minimum of two characters long"
-msgstr ""
-
-#: common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
-#, python-format
-msgid "Username cannot be more than %(limit_value)s characters long"
-msgstr ""
-
-#. Translators: This message is shown when the Unicode usernames are NOT
-#. allowed
-#: common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
-msgid ""
-"Usernames can only contain Roman letters, western numerals (0-9), "
-"underscores (_), and hyphens (-)."
-msgstr ""
-
-#. Translators: This message is shown only when the Unicode usernames are
-#. allowed
-#: common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
-msgid ""
-"Usernames can only contain letters, numerals, underscore (_), numbers and "
-"@/./+/-/_ characters."
-msgstr ""
-
 #: common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
 msgid ""
 "That e-mail address doesn't have an associated user account. Are you sure "
@@ -9307,6 +9282,101 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Theming Administration"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid ""
+"Usernames can only contain letters (A-Z, a-z), numerals (0-9), underscores "
+"(_), and hyphens (-)."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid ""
+"Usernames can only contain letters, numerals, and @/./+/-/_ characters."
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
+#. account using
+#. an invalid email format.
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+#, python-brace-format
+msgid "\"{email}\" is not a valid email address."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+#, python-brace-format
+msgid ""
+"It looks like {email_address} belongs to an existing account. Try again with"
+" a different email address."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+#, python-brace-format
+msgid ""
+"It looks like {username} belongs to an existing account. Try again with a "
+"different username."
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: This message is shown to users who enter a
+#. username/email/password
+#. with an inappropriate length (too short or too long).
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+#, python-brace-format
+msgid "Username must be between {min} and {max} characters long."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+#, python-brace-format
+msgid "Enter a valid email address that contains at least {min} characters."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please enter a password."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Password is not long enough."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+#, python-brace-format
+msgid "Password cannot be longer than {max} character."
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: This message is shown to users who enter a password matching
+#. the username they enter(ed).
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Password cannot be the same as the username."
+msgstr ""
+
+#. Translators: These messages are shown to users who do not enter information
+#. into the required field or enter it incorrectly.
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please enter your Full Name."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "The email addresses do not match."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please select your Country."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please enter your City."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please tell us your goals."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please select your highest level of education completed."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+msgid "Please enter your mailing address."
+msgstr ""
+
 #: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/api.py
 #, python-brace-format
 msgid "The '{field_name}' field cannot be edited."
@@ -9392,24 +9462,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Remember me"
 msgstr ""
 
-#. Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
-#. account using an email address associated with an existing account.
-#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
-#, python-brace-format
-msgid ""
-"It looks like {email_address} belongs to an existing account. Try again with"
-" a different email address."
-msgstr ""
-
-#. Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
-#. account using a username associated with an existing account.
-#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
-#, python-brace-format
-msgid ""
-"It looks like {username} belongs to an existing account. Try again with a "
-"different username."
-msgstr ""
-
 #. Translators: These instructions appear on the registration form,
 #. immediately
 #. below a field meant to hold the user's email address.
@@ -9423,10 +9475,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Confirm Email"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
-msgid "The email addresses do not match."
-msgstr ""
-
 #. Translators: This example name is used as a placeholder in
 #. a field on the registration form meant to hold the user's name.
 #: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
@@ -9505,10 +9553,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Company"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
-msgid "Please select your Country."
-msgstr ""
-
 #: openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
 msgid "Review the Honor Code"
 msgstr ""
@@ -19610,6 +19654,10 @@ msgid ""
 "assistance."
 msgstr ""
 
+#: cms/templates/index.html
+msgid "Archived Courses"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: cms/templates/index.html
 msgid "Libraries"
 msgstr ""
@@ -21665,7 +21713,7 @@ msgid "Your changes were saved."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: wiki/views/article.py
-msgid "A new revision of the article was succesfully added."
+msgid "A new revision of the article was successfully added."
 msgstr ""
 
 #: wiki/views/article.py
diff --git a/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po b/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po
index 6e72b476c9..a8a3d33527 100644
--- a/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po
+++ b/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/djangojs.po
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: 0.1a\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: openedx-translation@googlegroups.com\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2017-08-01 21:22+0000\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2017-08-01 21:22:50.339993\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2017-08-02 12:47+0000\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2017-08-02 12:48:04.567443\n"
 "Last-Translator: \n"
 "Language-Team: openedx-translation <openedx-translation@googlegroups.com>\n"
 "MIME-Version: 1.0\n"
@@ -4218,6 +4218,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "We couldn't create your account."
 msgstr ""
 
+#: lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
+msgid "(required)"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
 msgid "You've successfully signed into %(currentProvider)s."
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py
index e82d4b4ab0..20ae639da0 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.oauth_dispatch.tests import factories as dot_factor
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.programs.tests.mixins import ProgramsApiConfigMixin
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration.tests.mixins import SiteMixin
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.theming.tests.test_util import with_comprehensive_theme_context
-from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts import EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts.api import activate_account, create_account
 from openedx.core.djangolib.js_utils import dump_js_escaped_json
 from openedx.core.djangolib.testing.utils import CacheIsolationTestCase
@@ -62,24 +61,6 @@ class StudentAccountUpdateTest(CacheIsolationTestCase, UrlResetMixin):
     NEW_EMAIL = u"walt@savewalterwhite.com"
 
     INVALID_ATTEMPTS = 100
-
-    INVALID_EMAILS = [
-        None,
-        u"",
-        u"a",
-        "no_domain",
-        "no+domain",
-        "@",
-        "@domain.com",
-        "test@no_extension",
-
-        # Long email -- subtract the length of the @domain
-        # except for one character (so we exceed the max length limit)
-        u"{user}@example.com".format(
-            user=(u'e' * (EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH - 11))
-        )
-    ]
-
     INVALID_KEY = u"123abc"
 
     URLCONF_MODULES = ['student_accounts.urls']
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
index d035155ac7..b50e82c8f8 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@
                         confirm_email: 'xsy@edx.org',
                         honor_code: true
                     },
+                    $email = null,
+                    $name = null,
+                    $username = null,
+                    $password = null,
+                    $levelOfEducation = null,
+                    $gender = null,
+                    $yearOfBirth = null,
+                    $mailingAddress = null,
+                    $goals = null,
+                    $confirmEmail = null,
+                    $honorCode = null,
                     THIRD_PARTY_AUTH = {
                         currentProvider: null,
                         providers: [
@@ -49,9 +60,26 @@
                             }
                         ]
                     },
+                    VALIDATION_DECISIONS_POSITIVE = {
+                        validation_decisions: {
+                            email: '',
+                            username: '',
+                            password: '',
+                            confirm_email: ''
+                        }
+                    },
+                    VALIDATION_DECISIONS_NEGATIVE = {
+                        validation_decisions: {
+                            email: 'Error.',
+                            username: 'Error.',
+                            password: 'Error.',
+                            confirm_email: 'Error'
+                        }
+                    },
                     FORM_DESCRIPTION = {
                         method: 'post',
                         submit_url: '/user_api/v1/account/registration/',
+                        validation_url: '/api/user/v1/validation/registration',
                         fields: [
                             {
                                 placeholder: 'username@domain.com',
@@ -110,10 +138,10 @@
                                 defaultValue: '',
                                 type: 'select',
                                 options: [
-                                {value: '', name: '--'},
-                                {value: 'p', name: 'Doctorate'},
-                                {value: 'm', name: "Master's or professional degree"},
-                                {value: 'b', name: "Bachelor's degree"}
+                                    {value: '', name: '--'},
+                                    {value: 'p', name: 'Doctorate'},
+                                    {value: 'm', name: "Master's or professional degree"},
+                                    {value: 'b', name: "Bachelor's degree"}
                                 ],
                                 required: false,
                                 instructions: 'Select your education level.',
@@ -126,10 +154,10 @@
                                 defaultValue: '',
                                 type: 'select',
                                 options: [
-                                {value: '', name: '--'},
-                                {value: 'm', name: 'Male'},
-                                {value: 'f', name: 'Female'},
-                                {value: 'o', name: 'Other'}
+                                    {value: '', name: '--'},
+                                    {value: 'm', name: 'Male'},
+                                    {value: 'f', name: 'Female'},
+                                    {value: 'o', name: 'Other'}
                                 ],
                                 required: false,
                                 instructions: 'Select your gender.',
@@ -142,10 +170,10 @@
                                 defaultValue: '',
                                 type: 'select',
                                 options: [
-                                {value: '', name: '--'},
-                                {value: 1900, name: '1900'},
-                                {value: 1950, name: '1950'},
-                                {value: 2014, name: '2014'}
+                                    {value: '', name: '--'},
+                                    {value: 1900, name: '1900'},
+                                    {value: 1950, name: '1950'},
+                                    {value: 2014, name: '2014'}
                                 ],
                                 required: false,
                                 instructions: 'Select your year of birth.',
@@ -185,7 +213,6 @@
                             }
                         ]
                     };
-
                 var createRegisterView = function(that) {
                 // Initialize the register model
                     model = new RegisterModel({}, {
@@ -209,6 +236,43 @@
                     view.on('auth-complete', function() {
                         authComplete = true;
                     });
+
+                // Target each form field.
+                    $email = $('#register-email');
+                    $confirmEmail = $('#register-confirm_email');
+                    $name = $('#register-name');
+                    $username = $('#register-username');
+                    $password = $('#register-password');
+                    $levelOfEducation = $('#register-level_of_education');
+                    $gender = $('#register-gender');
+                    $yearOfBirth = $('#register-year_of_birth');
+                    $mailingAddress = $('#register-mailing_address');
+                    $goals = $('#register-goals');
+                    $honorCode = $('#register-honor_code');
+                };
+
+                var fillData = function() {
+                    $email.val(USER_DATA.email);
+                    $confirmEmail.val(USER_DATA.email);
+                    $name.val(USER_DATA.name);
+                    $username.val(USER_DATA.username);
+                    $password.val(USER_DATA.password);
+                    $levelOfEducation.val(USER_DATA.level_of_education);
+                    $gender.val(USER_DATA.gender);
+                    $yearOfBirth.val(USER_DATA.year_of_birth);
+                    $mailingAddress.val(USER_DATA.mailing_address);
+                    $goals.val(USER_DATA.goals);
+                // Check the honor code checkbox
+                    $honorCode.prop('checked', USER_DATA.honor_code);
+                };
+
+                var liveValidate = function($el, validationSuccess) {
+                    $el.focus();
+                    if (!_.isUndefined(validationSuccess) && !validationSuccess) {
+                        model.trigger('validation', $el, VALIDATION_DECISIONS_NEGATIVE);
+                    } else {
+                        model.trigger('validation', $el, VALIDATION_DECISIONS_POSITIVE);
+                    }
                 };
 
                 var submitForm = function(validationSuccess) {
@@ -216,19 +280,7 @@
                     var clickEvent = $.Event('click');
 
                 // Simulate manual entry of registration form data
-                    $('#register-email').val(USER_DATA.email);
-                    $('#register-confirm_email').val(USER_DATA.email);
-                    $('#register-name').val(USER_DATA.name);
-                    $('#register-username').val(USER_DATA.username);
-                    $('#register-password').val(USER_DATA.password);
-                    $('#register-level_of_education').val(USER_DATA.level_of_education);
-                    $('#register-gender').val(USER_DATA.gender);
-                    $('#register-year_of_birth').val(USER_DATA.year_of_birth);
-                    $('#register-mailing_address').val(USER_DATA.mailing_address);
-                    $('#register-goals').val(USER_DATA.goals);
-
-                // Check the honor code checkbox
-                    $('#register-honor_code').prop('checked', USER_DATA.honor_code);
+                    fillData();
 
                 // If validationSuccess isn't passed, we avoid
                 // spying on `view.validate` twice
@@ -238,6 +290,10 @@
                             isValid: validationSuccess,
                             message: 'Submission was validated.'
                         });
+                    // Successful validation means there's no need to use AJAX calls from liveValidate,
+                        if (validationSuccess) {
+                            spyOn(view, 'liveValidate').and.callFake(function() {});
+                        }
                     }
 
                 // Submit the email address
@@ -284,6 +340,7 @@
                         if (param === '?course_id') {
                             return encodeURIComponent(COURSE_ID);
                         }
+                        return null;
                     });
 
                 // Attempt to register
@@ -308,17 +365,17 @@
                     expect($('.button-oa2-facebook')).toBeVisible();
                 });
 
-                it('validates registration form fields', function() {
+                it('validates registration form fields on form submission', function() {
                     createRegisterView(this);
 
                 // Submit the form, with successful validation
                     submitForm(true);
 
                 // Verify that validation of form fields occurred
-                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($('#register-email')[0]);
-                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($('#register-name')[0]);
-                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($('#register-username')[0]);
-                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($('#register-password')[0]);
+                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($email[0]);
+                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($name[0]);
+                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($username[0]);
+                    expect(view.validate).toHaveBeenCalledWith($password[0]);
 
                 // Verify that no submission errors are visible
                     expect(view.$formFeedback.find('.' + view.formErrorsJsHook).length).toEqual(0);
@@ -327,7 +384,34 @@
                     expect(view.$submitButton).toHaveAttr('disabled');
                 });
 
-                it('displays registration form validation errors', function() {
+                it('live validates registration form fields', function() {
+                    var requiredValidationFields = [$email, $confirmEmail, $username, $password],
+                        i,
+                        $el;
+                    createRegisterView(this);
+
+                    for (i = 0; i < requiredValidationFields.length; ++i) {
+                        $el = requiredValidationFields[i];
+
+                    // Perform successful live validations.
+                        liveValidate($el);
+
+                    // Confirm success.
+                        expect($el).toHaveClass('success');
+
+                    // Confirm that since we've blurred from each input, required text doesn't show.
+                        expect(view.getRequiredTextLabel($el)).toHaveClass('hidden');
+
+                    // Confirm fa-check shows.
+                        expect(view.getIcon($el)).toHaveClass('fa-check');
+                        expect(view.getIcon($el)).toBeVisible();
+
+                    // Confirm the error tip is empty.
+                        expect(view.getErrorTip($el).val().length).toBe(0);
+                    }
+                });
+
+                it('displays registration form validation errors on form submission', function() {
                     createRegisterView(this);
 
                 // Submit the form, with failed validation
@@ -343,7 +427,34 @@
                     expect(view.$submitButton).not.toHaveAttr('disabled');
                 });
 
-                it('displays an error if the server returns an error while registering', function() {
+                it('displays live registration form validation errors', function() {
+                    var requiredValidationFields = [$email, $confirmEmail, $username, $password],
+                        i,
+                        $el;
+                    createRegisterView(this);
+
+                    for (i = 0; i < requiredValidationFields.length; ++i) {
+                        $el = requiredValidationFields[i];
+
+                    // Perform invalid live validations.
+                        liveValidate($el, false);
+
+                    // Confirm error.
+                        expect($el).toHaveClass('error');
+
+                    // Confirm that since we've blurred from each input, required text still shows for errors.
+                        expect(view.getRequiredTextLabel($el)).not.toHaveClass('hidden');
+
+                    // Confirm fa-times shows.
+                        expect(view.getIcon($el)).toHaveClass('fa-exclamation');
+                        expect(view.getIcon($el)).toBeVisible();
+
+                    // Confirm the error tip shows an error message.
+                        expect(view.getErrorTip($el).val()).not.toBeEmpty();
+                    }
+                });
+
+                it('displays an error on form submission if the server returns an error', function() {
                     createRegisterView(this);
 
                 // Submit the form, with successful validation
diff --git a/lms/static/js/student_account/tos_modal.js b/lms/static/js/student_account/tos_modal.js
index d4982833c5..b1c9ad0571 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/student_account/tos_modal.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/student_account/tos_modal.js
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
     var buildIframe = function(link, modalSelector, contentSelector, tosLinkSelector) {
         // Create an iframe with contents from the link and set its height to match the content area
         return $('<iframe>', {
+            title: 'Terms of Service and Honor Code',
             src: link.href,
             load: function() {
                 var $iframeHead = $(this).contents().find('head'),
diff --git a/lms/static/js/student_account/views/FormView.js b/lms/static/js/student_account/views/FormView.js
index a458a12da8..412ecf6b10 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/student_account/views/FormView.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/student_account/views/FormView.js
@@ -6,43 +6,30 @@
         'backbone',
         'common/js/utils/edx.utils.validate',
         'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/html-utils',
+        'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/string-utils',
         'text!templates/student_account/form_errors.underscore'
-    ],
-        function($, _, Backbone, EdxUtilsValidate, HtmlUtils, formErrorsTpl) {
+    ], function($, _, Backbone, EdxUtilsValidate, HtmlUtils, StringUtils, formErrorsTpl) {
             return Backbone.View.extend({
                 tagName: 'form',
-
                 el: '',
-
                 tpl: '',
-
                 fieldTpl: '#form_field-tpl',
-
                 formErrorsTpl: formErrorsTpl,
-
                 formErrorsJsHook: 'js-form-errors',
-
                 defaultFormErrorsTitle: gettext('An error occurred.'),
-
                 events: {},
-
                 errors: [],
-
                 formType: '',
-
                 $form: {},
-
                 fields: [],
-
+                liveValidationFields: [],
             // String to append to required label fields
                 requiredStr: '',
-
             /*
-            Translators: This string is appended to optional field labels on the student login, registration, and
-            profile forms.
+                Translators: This string is appended to optional field labels on the student login, registration, and
+                profile forms.
             */
                 optionalStr: gettext('(optional)'),
-
                 submitButton: '',
 
                 initialize: function(data) {
@@ -157,7 +144,7 @@
                         $label,
                         key = '',
                         errors = [],
-                        test = {};
+                        validation = {};
 
                     for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
                         $el = $(elements[i]);
@@ -171,13 +158,13 @@
                         }
 
                         if (key) {
-                            test = this.validate(elements[i]);
-                            if (test.isValid) {
+                            validation = this.validate(elements[i]);
+                            if (validation.isValid) {
                                 obj[key] = $el.attr('type') === 'checkbox' ? $el.is(':checked') : $el.val();
                                 $el.removeClass('error');
                                 $label.removeClass('error');
                             } else {
-                                errors.push(test.message);
+                                errors.push(validation.message);
                                 $el.addClass('error');
                                 $label.addClass('error');
                             }
@@ -190,8 +177,15 @@
                 },
 
                 saveError: function(error) {
-                    this.errors = ['<li>' + error.responseText + '</li>'];
+                    this.errors = [
+                        StringUtils.interpolate(
+                            '<li>{error}</li>', {
+                                error: error.responseText
+                            }
+                        )
+                    ];
                     this.renderErrors(this.defaultFormErrorsTitle, this.errors);
+                    this.scrollToFormFeedback();
                     this.toggleDisableButton(false);
                 },
 
@@ -200,7 +194,6 @@
              */
                 renderErrors: function(title, errorMessages) {
                     this.clearFormErrors();
-
                     this.renderFormFeedback(this.formErrorsTpl, {
                         jsHook: this.formErrorsJsHook,
                         title: title,
@@ -211,14 +204,6 @@
                 renderFormFeedback: function(template, context) {
                     var tpl = HtmlUtils.template(template);
                     HtmlUtils.prepend(this.$formFeedback, tpl(context));
-
-                // Scroll to feedback container
-                    $('html,body').animate({
-                        scrollTop: this.$formFeedback.offset().top
-                    }, 'slow');
-
-                // Focus on the feedback container to ensure screen readers see the messages.
-                    this.$formFeedback.focus();
                 },
 
             /* Allows extended views to add non-form attributes
@@ -244,6 +229,7 @@
                         this.clearFormErrors();
                     } else {
                         this.renderErrors(this.defaultFormErrorsTitle, this.errors);
+                        this.scrollToFormFeedback();
                         this.toggleDisableButton(false);
                     }
 
@@ -257,6 +243,10 @@
                     return true;
                 },
 
+                resetValidationVariables: function() {
+                    return true;
+                },
+
                 clearFormErrors: function() {
                     var query = '.' + this.formErrorsJsHook;
                     this.clearFormFeedbackItems(query);
@@ -283,8 +273,44 @@
                     }
                 },
 
+                scrollToFormFeedback: function() {
+                    var self = this;
+                // Scroll to feedback container
+                    $('html,body').animate({
+                        scrollTop: this.$formFeedback.offset().top
+                    }, 'slow', function() {
+                        self.resetValidationVariables();
+                    });
+
+                // Focus on the feedback container to ensure screen readers see the messages.
+                    this.$formFeedback.focus();
+                },
+
                 validate: function($el) {
                     return EdxUtilsValidate.validate($el);
+                },
+
+                liveValidate: function($el, url, dataType, data, method, model) {
+                    $.ajax({
+                        url: url,
+                        dataType: dataType,
+                        data: data,
+                        method: method,
+                        success: function(response) {
+                            model.trigger('validation', $el, response);
+                        }
+                    });
+                },
+
+                inLiveValidationFields: function($el) {
+                    var i,
+                        name = $el.attr('name') || false;
+                    for (i = 0; i < this.liveValidationFields.length; ++i) {
+                        if (this.liveValidationFields[i] === name) {
+                            return true;
+                        }
+                    }
+                    return false;
                 }
             });
         });
diff --git a/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js b/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
index 6c05d4a3e0..afe14d197b 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
@@ -4,29 +4,48 @@
         'jquery',
         'underscore',
         'gettext',
+        'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/string-utils',
         'js/student_account/views/FormView',
         'text!templates/student_account/form_status.underscore'
     ],
-        function($, _, gettext, FormView, formStatusTpl) {
+        function(
+            $, _, gettext,
+            StringUtils,
+            FormView,
+            formStatusTpl
+        ) {
             return FormView.extend({
                 el: '#register-form',
-
                 tpl: '#register-tpl',
-
+                validationUrl: '/api/user/v1/validation/registration',
                 events: {
                     'click .js-register': 'submitForm',
-                    'click .login-provider': 'thirdPartyAuth'
+                    'click .login-provider': 'thirdPartyAuth',
+                    'click input[required][type="checkbox"]': 'liveValidateHandler',
+                    'blur input[required], textarea[required], select[required]': 'liveValidateHandler',
+                    'focus input[required], textarea[required], select[required]': 'handleRequiredInputFocus'
                 },
-
+                liveValidationFields: [
+                    'name',
+                    'username',
+                    'password',
+                    'email',
+                    'confirm_email',
+                    'country',
+                    'honor_code',
+                    'terms_of_service'
+                ],
                 formType: 'register',
-
                 formStatusTpl: formStatusTpl,
-
                 authWarningJsHook: 'js-auth-warning',
-
                 defaultFormErrorsTitle: gettext('We couldn\'t create your account.'),
-
                 submitButton: '.js-register',
+                positiveValidationIcon: 'fa-check',
+                negativeValidationIcon: 'fa-exclamation',
+                successfulValidationDisplaySeconds: 3,
+            // These are reset to true on form submission.
+                positiveValidationEnabled: true,
+                negativeValidationEnabled: true,
 
                 preRender: function(data) {
                     this.providers = data.thirdPartyAuth.providers || [];
@@ -41,6 +60,7 @@
                     this.autoRegisterWelcomeMessage = data.thirdPartyAuth.autoRegisterWelcomeMessage || '';
 
                     this.listenTo(this.model, 'sync', this.saveSuccess);
+                    this.listenTo(this.model, 'validation', this.renderLiveValidations);
                 },
 
                 render: function(html) {
@@ -79,6 +99,144 @@
                     return this;
                 },
 
+                hideRequiredMessageExceptOnError: function($el) {
+                    // We only handle blur if not in an error state.
+                    if (!$el.hasClass('error')) {
+                        this.hideRequiredMessage($el);
+                    }
+                },
+
+                hideRequiredMessage: function($el) {
+                    this.doOnInputLabel($el, function($label) {
+                        $label.addClass('hidden');
+                    });
+                },
+
+                doOnInputLabel: function($el, action) {
+                    var $label = this.getRequiredTextLabel($el);
+                    action($label);
+                },
+
+                handleRequiredInputFocus: function(event) {
+                    var $el = $(event.currentTarget);
+                    // Avoid rendering for required checkboxes.
+                    if ($el.attr('type') !== 'checkbox') {
+                        this.renderRequiredMessage($el);
+                    }
+                    if ($el.hasClass('error')) {
+                        this.doOnInputLabel($el, function($label) {
+                            $label.addClass('error');
+                        });
+                    }
+                },
+
+                renderRequiredMessage: function($el) {
+                    this.doOnInputLabel($el, function($label) {
+                        $label.removeClass('hidden').text(gettext('(required)'));
+                    });
+                },
+
+                getRequiredTextLabel: function($el) {
+                    return $('#' + $el.attr('id') + '-required-label');
+                },
+
+                renderLiveValidations: function($el, decisions) {
+                    var $label = this.getLabel($el),
+                        $requiredTextLabel = this.getRequiredTextLabel($el),
+                        $icon = this.getIcon($el),
+                        $errorTip = this.getErrorTip($el),
+                        name = $el.attr('name'),
+                        type = $el.attr('type'),
+                        isCheckbox = type === 'checkbox',
+                        hasError = decisions.validation_decisions[name] !== '',
+                        error = isCheckbox ? '' : decisions.validation_decisions[name];
+
+                    if (hasError && this.negativeValidationEnabled) {
+                        this.renderLiveValidationError($el, $label, $requiredTextLabel, $icon, $errorTip, error);
+                    } else if (this.positiveValidationEnabled) {
+                        this.renderLiveValidationSuccess($el, $label, $requiredTextLabel, $icon, $errorTip);
+                    }
+                },
+
+                getLabel: function($el) {
+                    return this.$form.find('label[for=' + $el.attr('id') + ']');
+                },
+
+                getIcon: function($el) {
+                    return $('#' + $el.attr('id') + '-validation-icon');
+                },
+
+                getErrorTip: function($el) {
+                    return $('#' + $el.attr('id') + '-validation-error-msg');
+                },
+
+                getFieldTimeout: function($el) {
+                    return $('#' + $el.attr('id')).attr('timeout-id') || null;
+                },
+
+                setFieldTimeout: function($el, time, action) {
+                    $el.attr('timeout-id', setTimeout(action, time));
+                },
+
+                clearFieldTimeout: function($el) {
+                    var timeout = this.getFieldTimeout($el);
+                    if (timeout) {
+                        clearTimeout(this.getFieldTimeout($el));
+                        $el.removeAttr('timeout-id');
+                    }
+                },
+
+                renderLiveValidationError: function($el, $label, $req, $icon, $tip, error) {
+                    this.removeLiveValidationIndicators(
+                        $el, $label, $req, $icon,
+                        'success', this.positiveValidationIcon
+                    );
+                    this.addLiveValidationIndicators(
+                        $el, $label, $req, $icon, $tip,
+                        'error', this.negativeValidationIcon, error
+                    );
+                    this.renderRequiredMessage($el);
+                },
+
+                renderLiveValidationSuccess: function($el, $label, $req, $icon, $tip) {
+                    var self = this,
+                        validationFadeTime = this.successfulValidationDisplaySeconds * 1000;
+                    this.removeLiveValidationIndicators(
+                        $el, $label, $req, $icon,
+                        'error', this.negativeValidationIcon
+                    );
+                    this.addLiveValidationIndicators(
+                        $el, $label, $req, $icon, $tip,
+                        'success', this.positiveValidationIcon, ''
+                    );
+                    this.hideRequiredMessage($el);
+
+                    // Hide success indicators after some time.
+                    this.clearFieldTimeout($el);
+                    this.setFieldTimeout($el, validationFadeTime, function() {
+                        self.removeLiveValidationIndicators(
+                            $el, $label, $req, $icon,
+                            'success', self.positiveValidationIcon
+                        );
+                        self.clearFieldTimeout($el);
+                    });
+                },
+
+                addLiveValidationIndicators: function($el, $label, $req, $icon, $tip, indicator, icon, msg) {
+                    $el.addClass(indicator);
+                    $label.addClass(indicator);
+                    $req.addClass(indicator);
+                    $icon.addClass(indicator + ' ' + icon);
+                    $tip.text(msg);
+                },
+
+                removeLiveValidationIndicators: function($el, $label, $req, $icon, indicator, icon) {
+                    $el.removeClass(indicator);
+                    $label.removeClass(indicator);
+                    $req.removeClass(indicator);
+                    $icon.removeClass(indicator + ' ' + icon);
+                },
+
                 thirdPartyAuth: function(event) {
                     var providerUrl = $(event.currentTarget).data('provider-url') || '';
 
@@ -100,12 +258,17 @@
                             function(errorList) {
                                 return _.map(
                                     errorList,
-                                    function(errorItem) { return '<li>' + errorItem.user_message + '</li>'; }
+                                    function(errorItem) {
+                                        return StringUtils.interpolate('<li>{error}</li>', {
+                                            error: errorItem.user_message
+                                        });
+                                    }
                                 );
                             }
                         )
                     );
                     this.renderErrors(this.defaultFormErrorsTitle, this.errors);
+                    this.scrollToFormFeedback();
                     this.toggleDisableButton(false);
                 },
 
@@ -116,6 +279,11 @@
                     }
                 },
 
+                resetValidationVariables: function() {
+                    this.positiveValidationEnabled = true;
+                    this.negativeValidationEnabled = true;
+                },
+
                 renderAuthWarning: function() {
                     var msgPart1 = gettext('You\'ve successfully signed into %(currentProvider)s.'),
                         msgPart2 = gettext(
@@ -132,35 +300,100 @@
                     });
                 },
 
-                getFormData: function() {
-                    var obj = FormView.prototype.getFormData.apply(this, arguments),
-                        $form = this.$form,
-                        $label,
-                        $emailElement,
-                        $confirmEmailElement,
-                        email = '',
-                        confirmEmail = '';
+                submitForm: function(event) { // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
+                    var elements = this.$form[0].elements,
+                        $el,
+                        i;
 
-                    $emailElement = $form.find('input[name=email]');
-                    $confirmEmailElement = $form.find('input[name=confirm_email]');
+                // As per requirements, disable positive validation for submission.
+                    this.positiveValidationEnabled = false;
 
-                    if ($confirmEmailElement.length) {
-                        email = $emailElement.val();
-                        confirmEmail = $confirmEmailElement.val();
-                        $label = $form.find('label[for=' + $confirmEmailElement.attr('id') + ']');
+                    for (i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
+                        $el = $(elements[i]);
 
-                        if (confirmEmail !== '' && email !== confirmEmail) {
-                            this.errors.push('<li>' + $confirmEmailElement.data('errormsg-required') + '</li>');
-                            $confirmEmailElement.addClass('error');
-                            $label.addClass('error');
-                        } else if (confirmEmail !== '') {
-                            obj.confirm_email = confirmEmail;
-                            $confirmEmailElement.removeClass('error');
-                            $label.removeClass('error');
+                        // Simulate live validation.
+                        if ($el.attr('required')) {
+                            $el.blur();
                         }
                     }
 
+                    FormView.prototype.submitForm.apply(this, arguments);
+                },
+
+                getFormData: function() {
+                    var obj = FormView.prototype.getFormData.apply(this, arguments),
+                        $emailElement = this.$form.find('input[name=email]'),
+                        $confirmEmail = this.$form.find('input[name=confirm_email]');
+
+                    if ($confirmEmail.length) {
+                        if (!$confirmEmail.val() || ($emailElement.val() !== $confirmEmail.val())) {
+                            this.errors.push(StringUtils.interpolate('<li>{error}</li>', {
+                                error: $confirmEmail.data('errormsg-required')
+                            }));
+                        }
+                        obj.confirm_email = $confirmEmail.val();
+                    }
+
                     return obj;
+                },
+
+                liveValidateHandler: function(event) {
+                    var $el = $(event.currentTarget);
+                    // Until we get a back-end that can handle all available
+                    // registration fields, we do some generic validation here.
+                    if (this.inLiveValidationFields($el)) {
+                        if ($el.attr('type') === 'checkbox') {
+                            this.liveValidateCheckbox($el);
+                        } else {
+                            this.liveValidate($el);
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        this.genericLiveValidateHandler($el);
+                    }
+                    // On blur, we do exactly as the function name says, no matter which input.
+                    this.hideRequiredMessageExceptOnError($el);
+                },
+
+                liveValidate: function($el) {
+                    var data = {},
+                        field,
+                        i;
+                    for (i = 0; i < this.liveValidationFields.length; ++i) {
+                        field = this.liveValidationFields[i];
+                        data[field] = $('#register-' + field).val();
+                    }
+                    FormView.prototype.liveValidate(
+                        $el, this.validationUrl, 'json', data, 'POST', this.model
+                    );
+                },
+
+                liveValidateCheckbox: function($checkbox) {
+                    var validationDecisions = {validation_decisions: {}},
+                        decisions = validationDecisions.validation_decisions,
+                        name = $checkbox.attr('name'),
+                        checked = $checkbox.is(':checked'),
+                        error = $checkbox.data('errormsg-required');
+                    decisions[name] = checked ? '' : error;
+                    this.renderLiveValidations($checkbox, validationDecisions);
+                },
+
+                genericLiveValidateHandler: function($el) {
+                    var elementType = $el.attr('type');
+                    if (elementType === 'checkbox') {
+                    // We are already validating checkboxes in a generic way.
+                        this.liveValidateCheckbox($el);
+                    } else {
+                        this.genericLiveValidate($el);
+                    }
+                },
+
+                genericLiveValidate: function($el) {
+                    var validationDecisions = {validation_decisions: {}},
+                        decisions = validationDecisions.validation_decisions,
+                        name = $el.attr('name'),
+                        error = $el.data('errormsg-required');
+                    decisions[name] = $el.val() ? '' : error;
+                    this.renderLiveValidations($el, validationDecisions);
                 }
             });
         });
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/views/_login-register.scss b/lms/static/sass/views/_login-register.scss
index 0872ccd786..a2472668b8 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/views/_login-register.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/views/_login-register.scss
@@ -296,10 +296,6 @@
                 display: inline;
             }
 
-            &.error {
-                color: $red;
-            }
-
             &[for="register-data_sharing_consent"],
             &[for="register-honor_code"],
             &[for="register-terms_of_service"] {
@@ -365,7 +361,22 @@
             }
 
             &.error {
-                border-color: $error-color;
+                border-color: $red;
+            }
+
+            &.success {
+                border-color: $success-color-hover;
+            }
+        }
+
+        textarea,
+        select {
+            &.error {
+                outline-color: $red;
+            }
+
+            &.success {
+                outline-color: $success-color-hover;
             }
         }
 
@@ -384,9 +395,16 @@
             &:active, &:focus {
                 outline: auto;
             }
+        }
 
+        span,
+        label {
             &.error {
-                outline-color: $error-color;
+                color: $red;
+            }
+
+            &.success {
+                color: $success-color-hover;
             }
         }
 
@@ -394,6 +412,7 @@
             @extend %t-copy-sub1;
             color: $uxpl-gray-base;
         }
+
         .tip {
             display: block;
         }
diff --git a/lms/templates/student_account/form_field.underscore b/lms/templates/student_account/form_field.underscore
index 93ab3fa216..05b3692b3b 100644
--- a/lms/templates/student_account/form_field.underscore
+++ b/lms/templates/student_account/form_field.underscore
@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
-<div class="form-field <%=type%>-<%= name %>">
+<div class="form-field <%- type %>-<%- name %>">
     <% if ( type !== 'checkbox' ) { %>
-        <label for="<%= form %>-<%= name %>">
-            <span class="label-text"><%= label %></span>
-            <% if ( required && requiredStr && (type !== 'hidden') ) { %><span class="label-required"><%= requiredStr %></span><% } %>
-            <% if ( !required && optionalStr && (type !== 'hidden') ) { %><span class="label-optional"><%= optionalStr %></span><% } %>
+        <label for="<%- form %>-<%- name %>">
+            <span class="label-text"><%- label %></span>
+            <% if ( required && type !== 'hidden' ) { %>
+                <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-required-label"
+                    class="label-required <% if ( !requiredStr ) { %>hidden<% } %>">
+                    <% if ( requiredStr ) { %><%- requiredStr %><% }%>
+                </span>
+                <span class="icon fa" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+            <% } %>
+            <% if ( !required && optionalStr && (type !== 'hidden') ) { %>
+                <span class="label-optional" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-optional-label"><%- optionalStr %></span>
+            <% } %>
         </label>
         <% if (supplementalLink && supplementalText) { %>
             <div class="supplemental-link">
@@ -13,50 +21,59 @@
     <% } %>
 
     <% if ( type === 'select' ) { %>
-        <select id="<%= form %>-<%= name %>"
-            name="<%= name %>"
+        <select id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>"
+            name="<%- name %>"
             class="input-inline"
             <% if ( instructions ) { %>
-            aria-describedby="<%= form %>-<%= name %>-desc"
+            aria-describedby="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-desc <%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error"
             <% } %>
             <% if ( typeof errorMessages !== 'undefined' ) {
                 _.each(errorMessages, function( msg, type ) {%>
-                    data-errormsg-<%= type %>="<%= msg %>"
+                    data-errormsg-<%- type %>="<%- msg %>"
             <%  });
             } %>
-            <% if ( required ) { %> aria-required="true" required<% } %>>
-        <% _.each(options, function(el) { %>
-            <option value="<%= el.value%>"<% if ( el.default ) { %> data-isdefault="true" selected<% } %>><%= el.name %></option>
-        <% }); %>
+            <% if ( required ) { %> aria-required="true" required<% } %>
+        >
+            <% _.each(options, function(el) { %>
+                <option value="<%- el.value%>"<% if ( el.default ) { %> data-isdefault="true" selected<% } %>><%- el.name %></option>
+            <% }); %>
         </select>
-        <% if ( instructions ) { %> <span class="tip tip-input" id="<%= form %>-<%= name %>-desc"><%= instructions %></span><% } %>
+        <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error" class="tip error" aria-live="assertive">
+            <span class="sr-only">ERROR: </span>
+            <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error-msg"></span>
+        </span>
+        <% if ( instructions ) { %> <span class="tip tip-input" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-desc"><%- instructions %></span><% } %>
         <% if (supplementalLink && supplementalText) { %>
             <div class="supplemental-link">
                 <a href="<%- supplementalLink %>" target="_blank"><%- supplementalText %></a>
             </div>
         <% } %>
     <% } else if ( type === 'textarea' ) { %>
-        <textarea id="<%= form %>-<%= name %>"
-            type="<%= type %>"
-            name="<%= name %>"
+        <textarea id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>"
+            type="<%- type %>"
+            name="<%- name %>"
             class="input-block"
             <% if ( instructions ) { %>
-            aria-describedby="<%= form %>-<%= name %>-desc"
+            aria-describedby="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-desc <%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error"
             <% } %>
-            <% if ( restrictions.min_length ) { %> minlength="<%= restrictions.min_length %>"<% } %>
-            <% if ( restrictions.max_length ) { %> maxlength="<%= restrictions.max_length %>"<% } %>
+            <% if ( restrictions.min_length ) { %> minlength="<%- restrictions.min_length %>"<% } %>
+            <% if ( restrictions.max_length ) { %> maxlength="<%- restrictions.max_length %>"<% } %>
             <% if ( typeof errorMessages !== 'undefined' ) {
                 _.each(errorMessages, function( msg, type ) {%>
-                    data-errormsg-<%= type %>="<%= msg %>"
+                    data-errormsg-<%- type %>="<%- msg %>"
             <%  });
             } %>
-            <% if ( required ) { %> aria-required="true" required<% } %> ></textarea>
-            <% if ( instructions ) { %> <span class="tip tip-input" id="<%= form %>-<%= name %>-desc"><%= instructions %></span><% } %>
-            <% if (supplementalLink && supplementalText) { %>
-                <div class="supplemental-link">
-                    <a href="<%- supplementalLink %>" target="_blank"><%- supplementalText %></a>
-                </div>
-            <% } %>
+            <% if ( required ) { %> aria-required="true" required<% } %>></textarea>
+        <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error" class="tip error" aria-live="assertive">
+            <span class="sr-only">ERROR: </span>
+            <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error-msg"></span>
+        </span>
+        <% if ( instructions ) { %> <span class="tip tip-input" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-desc"><%- instructions %></span><% } %>
+        <% if (supplementalLink && supplementalText) { %>
+            <div class="supplemental-link">
+                <a href="<%- supplementalLink %>" target="_blank"><%- supplementalText %></a>
+            </div>
+        <% } %>
     <% } else { %>
         <% if ( type === 'checkbox' ) { %>
             <% if (supplementalLink && supplementalText) { %>
@@ -65,30 +82,44 @@
                 </div>
             <% } %>
         <% } %>
-        <input id="<%= form %>-<%= name %>"
-           type="<%= type %>"
-           name="<%= name %>"
+        <input id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>"
+           type="<%- type %>"
+           name="<%- name %>"
            class="input-block <% if ( type === 'checkbox' ) { %>checkbox<% } %>"
-            <% if ( instructions ) { %> aria-describedby="<%= form %>-<%= name %>-desc" <% } %>
-            <% if ( restrictions.min_length ) { %> minlength="<%= restrictions.min_length %>"<% } %>
-            <% if ( restrictions.max_length ) { %> maxlength="<%= restrictions.max_length %>"<% } %>
+            <% if ( instructions ) { %>
+            aria-describedby="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-desc <%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error"
+            <% } %>
+            <% if ( restrictions.min_length ) { %> minlength="<%- restrictions.min_length %>"<% } %>
+            <% if ( restrictions.max_length ) { %> maxlength="<%- restrictions.max_length %>"<% } %>
             <% if ( required ) { %> required<% } %>
             <% if ( typeof errorMessages !== 'undefined' ) {
                 _.each(errorMessages, function( msg, type ) {%>
-                    data-errormsg-<%= type %>="<%= msg %>"
+                    data-errormsg-<%- type %>="<%- msg %>"
             <%  });
             } %>
-            <% if ( placeholder ) { %> placeholder="<%= placeholder %>"<% } %>
+            <% if ( placeholder ) { %> placeholder="<%- placeholder %>"<% } %>
             value="<%- defaultValue %>"
         />
         <% if ( type === 'checkbox' ) { %>
-            <label for="<%= form %>-<%= name %>">
-                <span class="label-text"><%= label %></span>
-                <% if ( required && requiredStr ) { %><span class="label-required"><%= requiredStr %></span><% } %>
-                <% if ( !required && optionalStr ) { %><span class="label-optional"><%= optionalStr %></span><% } %>
+            <label for="<%- form %>-<%- name %>">
+                <span class="label-text"><%- label %></span>
+                <% if ( required && type !== 'hidden' ) { %>
+                    <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-required-label"
+                        class="label-required <% if ( !requiredStr ) { %>hidden<% } %>">
+                        <% if ( requiredStr ) { %><%- requiredStr %><% }%>
+                    </span>
+                    <span class="icon fa" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                <% } %>
+                <% if ( !required && optionalStr ) { %>
+                    <span class="label-optional" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-optional-label"><%- optionalStr %></span>
+                <% } %>
             </label>
         <% } %>
-        <% if ( instructions ) { %> <span class="tip tip-input" id="<%= form %>-<%= name %>-desc"><%= instructions %></span><% } %>
+        <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error" class="tip error" aria-live="assertive">
+            <span class="sr-only">ERROR: </span>
+            <span id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-validation-error-msg"></span>
+        </span>
+        <% if ( instructions ) { %> <span class="tip tip-input" id="<%- form %>-<%- name %>-desc"><%- instructions %></span><% } %>
     <% } %>
 
     <% if( form === 'login' && name === 'password' ) { %>
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
index 5441d168ff..1a1b68fd2f 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/__init__.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 Account constants
 """
 
+from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
+
+
 # The minimum and maximum length for the name ("full name") account field
 NAME_MIN_LENGTH = 2
 NAME_MAX_LENGTH = 255
@@ -25,3 +28,63 @@ ALL_USERS_VISIBILITY = 'all_users'
 
 # Indicates the user's preference that all their account information be private.
 PRIVATE_VISIBILITY = 'private'
+
+# Translators: This message is shown when the Unicode usernames are NOT allowed.
+# It is shown to users who attempt to create a new account using invalid characters
+# in the username.
+USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII = _(
+    u"Usernames can only contain letters (A-Z, a-z), numerals (0-9), underscores (_), and hyphens (-)."
+)
+
+# Translators: This message is shown only when the Unicode usernames are allowed.
+# It is shown to users who attempt to create a new account using invalid characters
+# in the username.
+USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE = _(
+    u"Usernames can only contain letters, numerals, and @/./+/-/_ characters."
+)
+
+# Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new account using
+# an invalid email format.
+EMAIL_INVALID_MSG = _(u'"{email}" is not a valid email address.')
+
+# Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
+# account using an username/email associated with an existing account.
+EMAIL_CONFLICT_MSG = _(
+    u"It looks like {email_address} belongs to an existing account. "
+    u"Try again with a different email address."
+)
+USERNAME_CONFLICT_MSG = _(
+    u"It looks like {username} belongs to an existing account. "
+    u"Try again with a different username."
+)
+
+# Translators: This message is shown to users who enter a username/email/password
+# with an inappropriate length (too short or too long).
+USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG = _(u"Username must be between {min} and {max} characters long.").format(
+    min=USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH, max=USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH
+)
+EMAIL_BAD_LENGTH_MSG = _(u"Enter a valid email address that contains at least {min} characters.").format(
+    min=EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH
+)
+PASSWORD_EMPTY_MSG = _(u"Please enter a password.")
+PASSWORD_BAD_MIN_LENGTH_MSG = _(u"Password is not long enough.")
+PASSWORD_BAD_MAX_LENGTH_MSG = _(u"Password cannot be longer than {max} character.").format(max=PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH)
+
+# These strings are normally not user-facing.
+USERNAME_BAD_TYPE_MSG = u"Username must be a string."
+EMAIL_BAD_TYPE_MSG = u"Email must be a string."
+PASSWORD_BAD_TYPE_MSG = u"Password must be a string."
+
+# Translators: This message is shown to users who enter a password matching
+# the username they enter(ed).
+PASSWORD_CANT_EQUAL_USERNAME_MSG = _(u"Password cannot be the same as the username.")
+
+# Translators: These messages are shown to users who do not enter information
+# into the required field or enter it incorrectly.
+REQUIRED_FIELD_NAME_MSG = _(u"Please enter your Full Name.")
+REQUIRED_FIELD_CONFIRM_EMAIL_MSG = _(u"The email addresses do not match.")
+REQUIRED_FIELD_COUNTRY_MSG = _(u"Please select your Country.")
+REQUIRED_FIELD_CITY_MSG = _(u"Please enter your City.")
+REQUIRED_FIELD_GOALS_MSG = _(u"Please tell us your goals.")
+REQUIRED_FIELD_LEVEL_OF_EDUCATION_MSG = _(u"Please select your highest level of education completed.")
+REQUIRED_FIELD_MAILING_ADDRESS_MSG = _(u"Please enter your mailing address.")
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/api.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/api.py
index 8fc3fcad65..7748eb09cb 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/api.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/api.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """
 Programmatic integration point for User API Accounts sub-application
 """
@@ -19,30 +20,19 @@ from util.model_utils import emit_setting_changed_event
 
 from openedx.core.lib.api.view_utils import add_serializer_errors
 
-from ..errors import (
-    AccountUpdateError, AccountValidationError, AccountUsernameInvalid, AccountPasswordInvalid,
-    AccountEmailInvalid, AccountUserAlreadyExists,
-    UserAPIInternalError, UserAPIRequestError, UserNotFound, UserNotAuthorized
-)
-from ..forms import PasswordResetFormNoActive
-from ..helpers import intercept_errors
-
-from . import (
-    EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH, EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH, PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH, PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
-    USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH, USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH
-)
 from .serializers import (
     AccountLegacyProfileSerializer, AccountUserSerializer,
     UserReadOnlySerializer, _visible_fields  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
 )
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_helpers
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api import errors, accounts, forms, helpers
 
 
 # Public access point for this function.
 visible_fields = _visible_fields
 
 
-@intercept_errors(UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[UserAPIRequestError])
+@helpers.intercept_errors(errors.UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[errors.UserAPIRequestError])
 def get_account_settings(request, usernames=None, configuration=None, view=None):
     """Returns account information for a user serialized as JSON.
 
@@ -67,16 +57,17 @@ def get_account_settings(request, usernames=None, configuration=None, view=None)
          A list of users account details.
 
     Raises:
-         UserNotFound: no user with username `username` exists (or `request.user.username` if
+         errors.UserNotFound: no user with username `username` exists (or `request.user.username` if
             `username` is not specified)
-         UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+         errors.UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+
     """
     requesting_user = request.user
     usernames = usernames or [requesting_user.username]
 
     requested_users = User.objects.select_related('profile').filter(username__in=usernames)
     if not requested_users:
-        raise UserNotFound()
+        raise errors.UserNotFound()
 
     serialized_users = []
     for user in requested_users:
@@ -95,7 +86,7 @@ def get_account_settings(request, usernames=None, configuration=None, view=None)
     return serialized_users
 
 
-@intercept_errors(UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[UserAPIRequestError])
+@helpers.intercept_errors(errors.UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[errors.UserAPIRequestError])
 def update_account_settings(requesting_user, update, username=None):
     """Update user account information.
 
@@ -111,17 +102,18 @@ def update_account_settings(requesting_user, update, username=None):
             `requesting_user.username` is assumed.
 
     Raises:
-        UserNotFound: no user with username `username` exists (or `requesting_user.username` if
+        errors.UserNotFound: no user with username `username` exists (or `requesting_user.username` if
             `username` is not specified)
-        UserNotAuthorized: the requesting_user does not have access to change the account
+        errors.UserNotAuthorized: the requesting_user does not have access to change the account
             associated with `username`
-        AccountValidationError: the update was not attempted because validation errors were found with
+        errors.AccountValidationError: the update was not attempted because validation errors were found with
             the supplied update
-        AccountUpdateError: the update could not be completed. Note that if multiple fields are updated at the same
-            time, some parts of the update may have been successful, even if an AccountUpdateError is returned;
-            in particular, the user account (not including e-mail address) may have successfully been updated,
+        errors.AccountUpdateError: the update could not be completed. Note that if multiple fields are updated at the
+            same time, some parts of the update may have been successful, even if an errors.AccountUpdateError is
+            returned; in particular, the user account (not including e-mail address) may have successfully been updated,
             but then the e-mail change request, which is processed last, may throw an error.
-        UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+        errors.UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+
     """
     if username is None:
         username = requesting_user.username
@@ -129,7 +121,7 @@ def update_account_settings(requesting_user, update, username=None):
     existing_user, existing_user_profile = _get_user_and_profile(username)
 
     if requesting_user.username != username:
-        raise UserNotAuthorized()
+        raise errors.UserNotAuthorized()
 
     # If user has requested to change email, we must call the multi-step process to handle this.
     # It is not handled by the serializer (which considers email to be read-only).
@@ -179,7 +171,7 @@ def update_account_settings(requesting_user, update, username=None):
 
     # If we have encountered any validation errors, return them to the user.
     if field_errors:
-        raise AccountValidationError(field_errors)
+        raise errors.AccountValidationError(field_errors)
 
     try:
         # If everything validated, go ahead and save the serializers.
@@ -224,40 +216,26 @@ def update_account_settings(requesting_user, update, username=None):
             existing_user_profile.save()
 
     except PreferenceValidationError as err:
-        raise AccountValidationError(err.preference_errors)
+        raise errors.AccountValidationError(err.preference_errors)
     except Exception as err:
-        raise AccountUpdateError(
+        raise errors.AccountUpdateError(
             u"Error thrown when saving account updates: '{}'".format(err.message)
         )
 
     # And try to send the email change request if necessary.
     if changing_email:
         if not settings.FEATURES['ALLOW_EMAIL_ADDRESS_CHANGE']:
-            raise AccountUpdateError(u"Email address changes have been disabled by the site operators.")
+            raise errors.AccountUpdateError(u"Email address changes have been disabled by the site operators.")
         try:
             student_views.do_email_change_request(existing_user, new_email)
         except ValueError as err:
-            raise AccountUpdateError(
+            raise errors.AccountUpdateError(
                 u"Error thrown from do_email_change_request: '{}'".format(err.message),
                 user_message=err.message
             )
 
 
-def _get_user_and_profile(username):
-    """
-    Helper method to return the legacy user and profile objects based on username.
-    """
-    try:
-        existing_user = User.objects.get(username=username)
-    except ObjectDoesNotExist:
-        raise UserNotFound()
-
-    existing_user_profile, _ = UserProfile.objects.get_or_create(user=existing_user)
-
-    return existing_user, existing_user_profile
-
-
-@intercept_errors(UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[UserAPIRequestError])
+@helpers.intercept_errors(errors.UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[errors.UserAPIRequestError])
 @transaction.atomic
 def create_account(username, password, email):
     """Create a new user account.
@@ -291,11 +269,12 @@ def create_account(username, password, email):
         unicode: an activation key for the account.
 
     Raises:
-        AccountUserAlreadyExists
-        AccountUsernameInvalid
-        AccountEmailInvalid
-        AccountPasswordInvalid
-        UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+        errors.AccountUserAlreadyExists
+        errors.AccountUsernameInvalid
+        errors.AccountEmailInvalid
+        errors.AccountPasswordInvalid
+        errors.UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+
     """
     # Check if ALLOW_PUBLIC_ACCOUNT_CREATION flag turned off to restrict user account creation
     if not configuration_helpers.get_value(
@@ -317,7 +296,7 @@ def create_account(username, password, email):
     try:
         user.save()
     except IntegrityError:
-        raise AccountUserAlreadyExists
+        raise errors.AccountUserAlreadyExists
 
     # Create a registration to track the activation process
     # This implicitly saves the registration.
@@ -350,16 +329,19 @@ def check_account_exists(username=None, email=None):
     """
     conflicts = []
 
-    if email is not None and User.objects.filter(email=email).exists():
+    try:
+        _validate_email_doesnt_exist(email)
+    except errors.AccountEmailAlreadyExists:
         conflicts.append("email")
-
-    if username is not None and User.objects.filter(username=username).exists():
+    try:
+        _validate_username_doesnt_exist(username)
+    except errors.AccountUsernameAlreadyExists:
         conflicts.append("username")
 
     return conflicts
 
 
-@intercept_errors(UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[UserAPIRequestError])
+@helpers.intercept_errors(errors.UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[errors.UserAPIRequestError])
 def activate_account(activation_key):
     """Activate a user's account.
 
@@ -370,19 +352,20 @@ def activate_account(activation_key):
         None
 
     Raises:
-        UserNotAuthorized
-        UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+        errors.UserNotAuthorized
+        errors.UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+
     """
     try:
         registration = Registration.objects.get(activation_key=activation_key)
     except Registration.DoesNotExist:
-        raise UserNotAuthorized
+        raise errors.UserNotAuthorized
     else:
         # This implicitly saves the registration
         registration.activate()
 
 
-@intercept_errors(UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[UserAPIRequestError])
+@helpers.intercept_errors(errors.UserAPIInternalError, ignore_errors=[errors.UserAPIRequestError])
 def request_password_change(email, orig_host, is_secure):
     """Email a single-use link for performing a password reset.
 
@@ -397,13 +380,14 @@ def request_password_change(email, orig_host, is_secure):
         None
 
     Raises:
-        UserNotFound
+        errors.UserNotFound
         AccountRequestError
-        UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+        errors.UserAPIInternalError: the operation failed due to an unexpected error.
+
     """
     # Binding data to a form requires that the data be passed as a dictionary
     # to the Form class constructor.
-    form = PasswordResetFormNoActive({'email': email})
+    form = forms.PasswordResetFormNoActive({'email': email})
 
     # Validate that a user exists with the given email address.
     if form.is_valid():
@@ -416,7 +400,135 @@ def request_password_change(email, orig_host, is_secure):
         )
     else:
         # No user with the provided email address exists.
-        raise UserNotFound
+        raise errors.UserNotFound
+
+
+def get_name_validation_error(name):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the user's real name is invalid in some way (we wonder how).
+
+    :param name: The proposed user's real name.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return '' if name else accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_NAME_MSG
+
+
+def get_username_validation_error(username):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the username is invalid in some way.
+
+    :param username: The proposed username (unicode).
+    :param default: The message to default to in case of no error.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_username, errors.AccountUsernameInvalid, username)
+
+
+def get_email_validation_error(email):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the email is invalid in some way.
+
+    :param email: The proposed email (unicode).
+    :param default: The message to default to in case of no error.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_email, errors.AccountEmailInvalid, email)
+
+
+def get_confirm_email_validation_error(confirm_email, email):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the confirmation email is invalid in some way.
+
+    :param confirm_email: The proposed confirmation email (unicode).
+    :param email: The email to match (unicode).
+    :param default: THe message to default to in case of no error.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_confirm_email, errors.AccountEmailInvalid, confirm_email, email)
+
+
+def get_password_validation_error(password, username=None):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the password is invalid in some way.
+
+    :param password: The proposed password (unicode).
+    :param username: The username associated with the user's account (unicode).
+    :param default: The message to default to in case of no error.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_password, errors.AccountPasswordInvalid, password, username)
+
+
+def get_country_validation_error(country):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the country is invalid in some way.
+
+    :param country: The proposed country.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_country, errors.AccountCountryInvalid, country)
+
+
+def get_username_existence_validation_error(username):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the username has an existence conflict.
+
+    :param username: The proposed username (unicode).
+    :param default: The message to default to in case of no error.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_username_doesnt_exist, errors.AccountUsernameAlreadyExists, username)
+
+
+def get_email_existence_validation_error(email):
+    """Get the built-in validation error message for when
+    the email has an existence conflict.
+
+    :param email: The proposed email (unicode).
+    :param default: The message to default to in case of no error.
+    :return: Validation error message.
+
+    """
+    return _validate(_validate_email_doesnt_exist, errors.AccountEmailAlreadyExists, email)
+
+
+def _get_user_and_profile(username):
+    """
+    Helper method to return the legacy user and profile objects based on username.
+    """
+    try:
+        existing_user = User.objects.get(username=username)
+    except ObjectDoesNotExist:
+        raise errors.UserNotFound()
+
+    existing_user_profile, _ = UserProfile.objects.get_or_create(user=existing_user)
+
+    return existing_user, existing_user_profile
+
+
+def _validate(validation_func, err, *args):
+    """Generic validation function that returns default on
+    no errors, but the message associated with the err class
+    otherwise. Passes all other arguments into the validation function.
+
+    :param validation_func: The function used to perform validation.
+    :param err: The error class to catch.
+    :param args: The arguments to pass into the validation function.
+    :return: Validation error message, or empty string if no error.
+
+    """
+    try:
+        validation_func(*args)
+    except err as validation_err:
+        return validation_err.message
+    return ''
 
 
 def _validate_username(username):
@@ -429,36 +541,62 @@ def _validate_username(username):
         None
 
     Raises:
-        AccountUsernameInvalid
+        errors.AccountUsernameInvalid
 
     """
-    if not isinstance(username, basestring):
-        raise AccountUsernameInvalid(u"Username must be a string")
-
-    if len(username) < USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH:
-        raise AccountUsernameInvalid(
-            u"Username '{username}' must be at least {min} characters long".format(
-                username=username,
-                min=USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH
-            )
-        )
-    if len(username) > USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH:
-        raise AccountUsernameInvalid(
-            u"Username '{username}' must be at most {max} characters long".format(
-                username=username,
-                max=USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH
-            )
-        )
     try:
+        _validate_unicode(username)
+        _validate_type(username, basestring, accounts.USERNAME_BAD_TYPE_MSG)
+        _validate_length(
+            username,
+            accounts.USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH,
+            accounts.USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+            accounts.USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG
+        )
         with override_language('en'):
             # `validate_username` provides a proper localized message, however the API needs only the English
             # message by convention.
             student_forms.validate_username(username)
-    except ValidationError as error:
-        raise AccountUsernameInvalid(error.message)
+    except (UnicodeError, errors.AccountDataBadType, errors.AccountDataBadLength, ValidationError) as username_err:
+        raise errors.AccountUsernameInvalid(username_err.message)
 
 
-def _validate_password(password, username):
+def _validate_email(email):
+    """Validate the format of the email address.
+
+    Arguments:
+        email (unicode): The proposed email.
+
+    Returns:
+        None
+
+    Raises:
+        errors.AccountEmailInvalid
+
+    """
+    try:
+        _validate_unicode(email)
+        _validate_type(email, basestring, accounts.EMAIL_BAD_TYPE_MSG)
+        _validate_length(email, accounts.EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH, accounts.EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH, accounts.EMAIL_BAD_LENGTH_MSG)
+        validate_email.message = accounts.EMAIL_INVALID_MSG.format(email=email)
+        validate_email(email)
+    except (UnicodeError, errors.AccountDataBadType, errors.AccountDataBadLength, ValidationError) as invalid_email_err:
+        raise errors.AccountEmailInvalid(invalid_email_err.message)
+
+
+def _validate_confirm_email(confirm_email, email):
+    """Validate the confirmation email field.
+
+    :param confirm_email: The proposed confirmation email. (unicode)
+    :param email: The email to match. (unicode)
+    :return: None
+
+    """
+    if not confirm_email or confirm_email != email:
+        raise errors.AccountEmailInvalid(accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_CONFIRM_EMAIL_MSG)
+
+
+def _validate_password(password, username=None):
     """Validate the format of the user's password.
 
     Passwords cannot be the same as the username of the account,
@@ -472,65 +610,116 @@ def _validate_password(password, username):
         None
 
     Raises:
-        AccountPasswordInvalid
+        errors.AccountPasswordInvalid
 
     """
-    if not isinstance(password, basestring):
-        raise AccountPasswordInvalid(u"Password must be a string")
-
-    if len(password) < PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH:
-        raise AccountPasswordInvalid(
-            u"Password must be at least {min} characters long".format(
-                min=PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH
-            )
-        )
-
-    if len(password) > PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH:
-        raise AccountPasswordInvalid(
-            u"Password must be at most {max} characters long".format(
-                max=PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH
-            )
-        )
-
-    if password == username:
-        raise AccountPasswordInvalid(u"Password cannot be the same as the username")
-
-
-def _validate_email(email):
-    """Validate the format of the email address.
-
-    Arguments:
-        email (unicode): The proposed email.
-
-    Returns:
-        None
-
-    Raises:
-        AccountEmailInvalid
-
-    """
-    if not isinstance(email, basestring):
-        raise AccountEmailInvalid(u"Email must be a string")
-
-    if len(email) < EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH:
-        raise AccountEmailInvalid(
-            u"Email '{email}' must be at least {min} characters long".format(
-                email=email,
-                min=EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH
-            )
-        )
-
-    if len(email) > EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH:
-        raise AccountEmailInvalid(
-            u"Email '{email}' must be at most {max} characters long".format(
-                email=email,
-                max=EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH
-            )
-        )
-
     try:
-        validate_email(email)
-    except ValidationError:
-        raise AccountEmailInvalid(
-            u"Email '{email}' format is not valid".format(email=email)
-        )
+        _validate_type(password, basestring, accounts.PASSWORD_BAD_TYPE_MSG)
+
+        if len(password) == 0:
+            raise errors.AccountPasswordInvalid(accounts.PASSWORD_EMPTY_MSG)
+        elif len(password) < accounts.PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH:
+            raise errors.AccountPasswordInvalid(accounts.PASSWORD_BAD_MIN_LENGTH_MSG)
+        elif len(password) > accounts.PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH:
+            raise errors.AccountPasswordInvalid(accounts.PASSWORD_BAD_MAX_LENGTH_MSG)
+
+        _validate_password_works_with_username(password, username)
+    except (errors.AccountDataBadType, errors.AccountDataBadLength) as invalid_password_err:
+        raise errors.AccountPasswordInvalid(invalid_password_err.message)
+
+
+def _validate_country(country):
+    """Validate the country selection.
+
+    :param country: The proposed country.
+    :return: None
+
+    """
+    if country == '' or country == '--':
+        raise errors.AccountCountryInvalid(accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_COUNTRY_MSG)
+
+
+def _validate_username_doesnt_exist(username):
+    """Validate that the username is not associated with an existing user.
+
+    :param username: The proposed username (unicode).
+    :return: None
+    :raises: errors.AccountUsernameAlreadyExists
+    """
+    if username is not None and User.objects.filter(username=username).exists():
+        raise errors.AccountUsernameAlreadyExists(_(accounts.USERNAME_CONFLICT_MSG).format(username=username))
+
+
+def _validate_email_doesnt_exist(email):
+    """Validate that the email is not associated with an existing user.
+
+    :param email: The proposed email (unicode).
+    :return: None
+    :raises: errors.AccountEmailAlreadyExists
+    """
+    if email is not None and User.objects.filter(email=email).exists():
+        raise errors.AccountEmailAlreadyExists(_(accounts.EMAIL_CONFLICT_MSG).format(email_address=email))
+
+
+def _validate_password_works_with_username(password, username=None):
+    """Run validation checks on whether the password and username
+    go well together.
+
+    An example check is to see whether they are the same.
+
+    :param password: The proposed password (unicode).
+    :param username: The username associated with the user's account (unicode).
+    :return: None
+    :raises: errors.AccountPasswordInvalid
+    """
+    if password == username:
+        raise errors.AccountPasswordInvalid(accounts.PASSWORD_CANT_EQUAL_USERNAME_MSG)
+
+
+def _validate_type(data, type, err):
+    """Checks whether the input data is of type. If not,
+    throws a generic error message.
+
+    :param data: The data to check.
+    :param type: The type to check against.
+    :param err: The error message to throw back if data is not of type.
+    :return: None
+    :raises: errors.AccountDataBadType
+
+    """
+    if not isinstance(data, type):
+        raise errors.AccountDataBadType(err)
+
+
+def _validate_length(data, min, max, err):
+    """Validate that the data's length is less than or equal to max,
+    and greater than or equal to min.
+
+    :param data: The data to do the test on.
+    :param min: The minimum allowed length.
+    :param max: The maximum allowed length.
+    :param err: The error message to throw back if data's length is below min or above max.
+    :return: None
+    :raises: errors.AccountDataBadLength
+
+    """
+    if len(data) < min or len(data) > max:
+        raise errors.AccountDataBadLength(err)
+
+
+def _validate_unicode(data, err=u"Input not valid unicode"):
+    """Checks whether the input data is valid unicode or not.
+
+    :param data: The data to check for unicode validity.
+    :param err: The error message to throw back if unicode is invalid.
+    :return: None
+    :raises: UnicodeError
+
+    """
+    try:
+        if not isinstance(data, str) and not isinstance(data, unicode):
+            raise UnicodeError(err)
+        # In some cases we pass the above, but it's still inappropriate utf-8.
+        unicode(data)
+    except UnicodeError:
+        raise UnicodeError(err)
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_api.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_api.py
index 129cf9883e..5df16efb86 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_api.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 Unit tests for behavior that is specific to the api methods (vs. the view methods).
 Most of the functionality is covered in test_views.py.
 """
+
 import re
 import ddt
 from dateutil.parser import parse as parse_datetime
@@ -17,17 +18,29 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.core import mail
 from django.test.client import RequestFactory
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts import (
+    USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+    PRIVATE_VISIBILITY
+)
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts.api import (
+    get_account_settings,
+    update_account_settings,
+    create_account,
+    activate_account,
+    request_password_change
+)
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.errors import (
+    UserNotFound, UserNotAuthorized,
+    AccountUpdateError, AccountValidationError, AccountUserAlreadyExists,
+    AccountUsernameInvalid, AccountEmailInvalid, AccountPasswordInvalid,
+    AccountRequestError
+)
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts.tests.testutils import (
+    INVALID_EMAILS, INVALID_PASSWORDS, INVALID_USERNAMES, VALID_USERNAMES_UNICODE
+)
 from openedx.core.djangolib.testing.utils import skip_unless_lms
 from student.models import PendingEmailChange
 from student.tests.tests import UserSettingsEventTestMixin
-from ...errors import (
-    UserNotFound, UserNotAuthorized, AccountUpdateError, AccountValidationError,
-    AccountUserAlreadyExists, AccountUsernameInvalid, AccountEmailInvalid, AccountPasswordInvalid, AccountRequestError
-)
-from ..api import (
-    get_account_settings, update_account_settings, create_account, activate_account, request_password_change
-)
-from .. import USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH, EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH, PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH, PRIVATE_VISIBILITY
 
 
 def mock_render_to_string(template_name, context):
@@ -310,40 +323,6 @@ class AccountCreationActivationAndPasswordChangeTest(TestCase):
     ORIG_HOST = 'example.com'
     IS_SECURE = False
 
-    INVALID_USERNAMES = [
-        None,
-        u'',
-        u'a',
-        u'a' * (USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH + 1),
-        u'invalid_symbol_@',
-        u'invalid-unicode_fŕáńḱ',
-    ]
-
-    INVALID_EMAILS = [
-        None,
-        u'',
-        u'a',
-        'no_domain',
-        'no+domain',
-        '@',
-        '@domain.com',
-        'test@no_extension',
-        u'fŕáńḱ@example.com',
-
-        # Long email -- subtract the length of the @domain
-        # except for one character (so we exceed the max length limit)
-        u'{user}@example.com'.format(
-            user=(u'e' * (EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH - 11))
-        )
-    ]
-
-    INVALID_PASSWORDS = [
-        None,
-        u'',
-        u'a',
-        u'a' * (PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH + 1)
-    ]
-
     @skip_unless_lms
     def test_activate_account(self):
         # Create the account, which is initially inactive
@@ -471,14 +450,7 @@ class AccountCreationUnicodeUsernameTest(TestCase):
     PASSWORD = u'unicode-user-password'
     EMAIL = u'unicode-user-username@example.com'
 
-    UNICODE_USERNAMES = [
-        u'Enchanté',
-        u'username_with_@',
-        u'username with spaces',
-        u'eastern_arabic_numbers_١٢٣',
-    ]
-
-    @ddt.data(*UNICODE_USERNAMES)
+    @ddt.data(*VALID_USERNAMES_UNICODE)
     def test_unicode_usernames(self, unicode_username):
         with patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'ENABLE_UNICODE_USERNAME': False}):
             with self.assertRaises(AccountUsernameInvalid):
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/testutils.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/testutils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..10b65ac703
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/testutils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""
+Utility functions, constants, etc. for testing.
+"""
+
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts import (
+    USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH, USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+    EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
+    PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH, PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH
+)
+
+
+INVALID_NAMES = [
+    None,
+    '',
+    u''
+]
+
+INVALID_USERNAMES_ASCII = [
+    '$invalid-ascii$',
+    'invalid-fŕáńḱ',
+    '@invalid-ascii@'
+]
+
+INVALID_USERNAMES_UNICODE = [
+    u'invalid-unicode_fŕáńḱ',
+]
+
+INVALID_USERNAMES = [
+    None,
+    u'',
+    u'a',
+    u'a' * (USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH + 1),
+] + INVALID_USERNAMES_ASCII + INVALID_USERNAMES_UNICODE
+
+INVALID_EMAILS = [
+    None,
+    u'',
+    u'a',
+    'no_domain',
+    'no+domain',
+    '@',
+    '@domain.com',
+    'test@no_extension',
+    u'fŕáńḱ@example.com',
+
+    # Long email -- subtract the length of the @domain
+    # except for one character (so we exceed the max length limit)
+    u'{user}@example.com'.format(
+        user=(u'e' * (EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH - 11))
+    )
+]
+
+INVALID_PASSWORDS = [
+    None,
+    u'',
+    u'a',
+    u'a' * (PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH + 1)
+]
+
+INVALID_COUNTRIES = [
+    None,
+    "",
+    "--"
+]
+
+VALID_NAMES = [
+    'Validation Bot',
+    u'Validation Bot'
+]
+
+VALID_USERNAMES_UNICODE = [
+    u'Enchanté',
+    u'username_with_@',
+    u'username with spaces',
+    u'eastern_arabic_numbers_١٢٣',
+]
+
+VALID_USERNAMES = [
+    u'username',
+    u'a' * USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH,
+    u'a' * USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+    u'-' * USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH,
+    u'-' * USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+    u'_username_',
+    u'-username-',
+    u'-_username_-'
+]
+
+VALID_EMAILS = [
+    'has@domain.com'
+]
+
+VALID_PASSWORDS = [
+    u'password',  # :)
+    u'a' * PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
+    u'a' * PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH
+]
+
+VALID_COUNTRIES = [
+    u'PK',
+    u'Pakistan',
+    u'US'
+]
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/errors.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/errors.py
index 1930d31365..c2fee3583f 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/errors.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/errors.py
@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@ class AccountUserAlreadyExists(AccountRequestError):
     pass
 
 
+class AccountUsernameAlreadyExists(AccountRequestError):
+    """User with the same username already exists. """
+    pass
+
+
+class AccountEmailAlreadyExists(AccountRequestError):
+    """User with the same email already exists. """
+    pass
+
+
 class AccountUsernameInvalid(AccountRequestError):
     """The requested username is not in a valid format. """
     pass
@@ -48,6 +58,21 @@ class AccountPasswordInvalid(AccountRequestError):
     pass
 
 
+class AccountCountryInvalid(AccountRequestError):
+    """The requested country does not exist. """
+    pass
+
+
+class AccountDataBadLength(AccountRequestError):
+    """The requested account data is either too short or too long. """
+    pass
+
+
+class AccountDataBadType(AccountRequestError):
+    """The requested account data is of the wrong type. """
+    pass
+
+
 class AccountUpdateError(AccountRequestError):
     """
     An update to the account failed. More detailed information is present in developer_message,
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
index 389407bb6b..c3317506ed 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -31,10 +31,9 @@ from third_party_auth.tests.utils import (
 from .test_helpers import TestCaseForm
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
-from ..helpers import FormDescription
 from ..accounts import (
     NAME_MAX_LENGTH, EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH, EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH, PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH, PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
-    USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH, USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH
+    USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH, USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH, USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG
 )
 from ..accounts.api import get_account_settings
 from ..models import UserOrgTag
@@ -1199,6 +1198,9 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UserAPITestCase):
                     {"value": "none", "name": "No formal education", "default": False},
                     {"value": "other", "name": "Other education", "default": False},
                 ],
+                "errorMessages": {
+                    "required": "Please select your highest level of education completed."
+                }
             }
         )
 
@@ -1225,6 +1227,9 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UserAPITestCase):
                     {"value": "none", "name": "No formal education TRANSLATED", "default": False},
                     {"value": "other", "name": "Other education TRANSLATED", "default": False},
                 ],
+                "errorMessages": {
+                    "required": "Please select your highest level of education completed."
+                }
             }
         )
 
@@ -1302,6 +1307,9 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UserAPITestCase):
                 "type": "textarea",
                 "required": False,
                 "label": "Mailing address",
+                "errorMessages": {
+                    "required": "Please enter your mailing address."
+                }
             }
         )
 
@@ -1314,7 +1322,10 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UserAPITestCase):
                 "required": False,
                 "label": u"Tell us why you're interested in {platform_name}".format(
                     platform_name=settings.PLATFORM_NAME
-                )
+                ),
+                "errorMessages": {
+                    "required": "Please tell us your goals."
+                }
             }
         )
 
@@ -1326,6 +1337,9 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UserAPITestCase):
                 "type": "text",
                 "required": False,
                 "label": "City",
+                "errorMessages": {
+                    "required": "Please enter your City."
+                }
             }
         )
 
@@ -1993,8 +2007,8 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UserAPITestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             response_json,
             {
-                "username": [{"user_message": "Username must be minimum of two characters long"}],
-                "password": [{"user_message": "A valid password is required"}],
+                u"username": [{u"user_message": USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG}],
+                u"password": [{u"user_message": u"A valid password is required"}],
             }
         )
 
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/urls.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/urls.py
index 38891f488e..ad11c09998 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/urls.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/urls.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from ..profile_images.views import ProfileImageView
 from .accounts.views import AccountDeactivationView, AccountViewSet
 from .preferences.views import PreferencesDetailView, PreferencesView
 from .verification_api.views import PhotoVerificationStatusView
+from .validation.views import RegistrationValidationView
 
 ME = AccountViewSet.as_view({
     'get': 'get',
@@ -25,9 +26,21 @@ ACCOUNT_DETAIL = AccountViewSet.as_view({
 
 urlpatterns = patterns(
     '',
-    url(r'^v1/me$', ME, name='own_username_api'),
-    url(r'^v1/accounts/{}$'.format(settings.USERNAME_PATTERN), ACCOUNT_DETAIL, name='accounts_api'),
-    url(r'^v1/accounts$', ACCOUNT_LIST, name='accounts_detail_api'),
+    url(
+        r'^v1/me$',
+        ME,
+        name='own_username_api'
+    ),
+    url(
+        r'^v1/accounts$',
+        ACCOUNT_LIST,
+        name='accounts_detail_api'
+    ),
+    url(
+        r'^v1/accounts/{}$'.format(settings.USERNAME_PATTERN),
+        ACCOUNT_DETAIL,
+        name='accounts_api'
+    ),
     url(
         r'^v1/accounts/{}/image$'.format(settings.USERNAME_PATTERN),
         ProfileImageView.as_view(),
@@ -43,6 +56,11 @@ urlpatterns = patterns(
         PhotoVerificationStatusView.as_view(),
         name='verification_status'
     ),
+    url(
+        r'^v1/validation/registration$',
+        RegistrationValidationView.as_view(),
+        name='registration_validation'
+    ),
     url(
         r'^v1/preferences/{}$'.format(settings.USERNAME_PATTERN),
         PreferencesView.as_view(),
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/__init__.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/tests/__init__.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/tests/test_views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ff294a041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/tests/test_views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""
+Tests for an API endpoint for client-side user data validation.
+"""
+
+import unittest
+
+import ddt
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api import accounts
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts.tests import testutils
+from openedx.core.lib.api import test_utils
+
+
+@ddt.ddt
+class RegistrationValidationViewTests(test_utils.ApiTestCase):
+    """
+    Tests for validity of user data in registration forms.
+    """
+
+    endpoint_name = 'registration_validation'
+    path = reverse(endpoint_name)
+
+    def get_validation_decision(self, data):
+        response = self.client.post(self.path, data)
+        return response.data.get('validation_decisions', {})
+
+    def assertValidationDecision(self, data, decision):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.get_validation_decision(data),
+            decision
+        )
+
+    def assertNotValidationDecision(self, data, decision):
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            self.get_validation_decision(data),
+            decision
+        )
+
+    def test_no_decision_for_empty_request(self):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {},
+            {}
+        )
+
+    def test_no_decision_for_invalid_request(self):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'invalid_field': 'random_user_data'},
+            {}
+        )
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        ['name', (name for name in testutils.VALID_NAMES)],
+        ['email', (email for email in testutils.VALID_EMAILS)],
+        ['password', (password for password in testutils.VALID_PASSWORDS)],
+        ['username', (username for username in testutils.VALID_USERNAMES)],
+        ['country', (country for country in testutils.VALID_COUNTRIES)]
+    )
+    @ddt.unpack
+    def test_positive_validation_decision(self, form_field_name, user_data):
+        """
+        Test if {0} as any item in {1} gives a positive validation decision.
+        """
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {form_field_name: user_data},
+            {form_field_name: ''}
+        )
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        # Skip None type for invalidity checks.
+        ['name', (name for name in testutils.INVALID_NAMES[1:])],
+        ['email', (email for email in testutils.INVALID_EMAILS[1:])],
+        ['password', (password for password in testutils.INVALID_PASSWORDS[1:])],
+        ['username', (username for username in testutils.INVALID_USERNAMES[1:])],
+        ['country', (country for country in testutils.INVALID_COUNTRIES[1:])]
+    )
+    @ddt.unpack
+    def test_negative_validation_decision(self, form_field_name, user_data):
+        """
+        Test if {0} as any item in {1} gives a negative validation decision.
+        """
+        self.assertNotValidationDecision(
+            {form_field_name: user_data},
+            {form_field_name: ''}
+        )
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        ['username', 'username@email.com'],  # No conflict
+        ['user', 'username@email.com'],  # Username conflict
+        ['username', 'user@email.com'],  # Email conflict
+        ['user', 'user@email.com']  # Both conflict
+    )
+    @ddt.unpack
+    def test_existence_conflict(self, username, email):
+        """
+        Test if username '{0}' and email '{1}' have conflicts with
+        username 'user' and email 'user@email.com'.
+        """
+        user = User.objects.create_user(username='user', email='user@email.com')
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {
+                'username': username,
+                'email': email
+            },
+            {
+                "username": accounts.USERNAME_CONFLICT_MSG.format(
+                    username=user.username
+                ) if username == user.username else '',
+                "email": accounts.EMAIL_CONFLICT_MSG.format(
+                    email_address=user.email
+                ) if email == user.email else ''
+            }
+        )
+
+    @ddt.data('', ('e' * accounts.EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH) + '@email.com')
+    def test_email_bad_length_validation_decision(self, email):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'email': email},
+            {'email': accounts.EMAIL_BAD_LENGTH_MSG}
+        )
+
+    def test_email_generically_invalid_validation_decision(self):
+        email = 'email'
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'email': email},
+            {'email': accounts.EMAIL_INVALID_MSG.format(email=email)}
+        )
+
+    def test_confirm_email_matches_email(self):
+        email = 'user@email.com'
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'email': email, 'confirm_email': email},
+            {'email': '', 'confirm_email': ''}
+        )
+
+    @ddt.data('', 'users@other.email')
+    def test_confirm_email_doesnt_equal_email(self, confirm_email):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'email': 'user@email.com', 'confirm_email': confirm_email},
+            {'email': '', 'confirm_email': accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_CONFIRM_EMAIL_MSG}
+        )
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        'u' * (accounts.USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH - 1),
+        'u' * (accounts.USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH + 1)
+    )
+    def test_username_bad_length_validation_decision(self, username):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'username': username},
+            {'username': accounts.USERNAME_BAD_LENGTH_MSG}
+        )
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.FEATURES.get("ENABLE_UNICODE_USERNAME"), "Unicode usernames disabled.")
+    @ddt.data(*testutils.INVALID_USERNAMES_UNICODE)
+    def test_username_invalid_unicode_validation_decision(self, username):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'username': username},
+            {'username': accounts.USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_UNICODE}
+        )
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(settings.FEATURES.get("ENABLE_UNICODE_USERNAME"), "Unicode usernames enabled.")
+    @ddt.data(*testutils.INVALID_USERNAMES_ASCII)
+    def test_username_invalid_ascii_validation_decision(self, username):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'username': username},
+            {"username": accounts.USERNAME_INVALID_CHARS_ASCII}
+        )
+
+    def test_password_empty_validation_decision(self):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'password': ''},
+            {"password": accounts.PASSWORD_EMPTY_MSG}
+        )
+
+    def test_password_bad_min_length_validation_decision(self):
+        password = 'p' * (accounts.PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH - 1)
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'password': password},
+            {"password": accounts.PASSWORD_BAD_MIN_LENGTH_MSG}
+        )
+
+    def test_password_bad_max_length_validation_decision(self):
+        password = 'p' * (accounts.PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH + 1)
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {'password': password},
+            {"password": accounts.PASSWORD_BAD_MAX_LENGTH_MSG}
+        )
+
+    def test_password_equals_username_validation_decision(self):
+        self.assertValidationDecision(
+            {"username": "somephrase", "password": "somephrase"},
+            {"username": "", "password": accounts.PASSWORD_CANT_EQUAL_USERNAME_MSG}
+        )
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1265c27cb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/validation/views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""
+An API for client-side validation of (potential) user data.
+"""
+
+from rest_framework.response import Response
+from rest_framework.views import APIView
+
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts.api import (
+    get_email_validation_error,
+    get_email_existence_validation_error,
+    get_confirm_email_validation_error,
+    get_country_validation_error,
+    get_name_validation_error,
+    get_password_validation_error,
+    get_username_validation_error,
+    get_username_existence_validation_error
+)
+
+
+class RegistrationValidationView(APIView):
+    """
+        **Use Cases**
+
+            Get validation information about user data during registration.
+            Client-side may request validation for any number of form fields,
+            and the API will return a conclusion from its analysis for each
+            input (i.e. valid or not valid, or a custom, detailed message).
+
+        **Example Requests and Responses**
+
+            - Checks the validity of the username and email inputs separately.
+            POST /api/user/v1/validation/registration/
+            >>> {
+            >>>     "username": "hi_im_new",
+            >>>     "email": "newguy101@edx.org"
+            >>> }
+            RESPONSE
+            >>> {
+            >>>     "validation_decisions": {
+            >>>         "username": "",
+            >>>         "email": ""
+            >>>     }
+            >>> }
+            Empty strings indicate that there was no problem with the input.
+
+            - Checks the validity of the password field (its validity depends
+              upon both the username and password fields, so we need both). If
+              only password is input, we don't check for password/username
+              compatibility issues.
+            POST /api/user/v1/validation/registration/
+            >>> {
+            >>>     "username": "myname",
+            >>>     "password": "myname"
+            >>> }
+            RESPONSE
+            >>> {
+            >>>     "validation_decisions": {
+            >>>         "username": "",
+            >>>         "password": "Password cannot be the same as the username"
+            >>>     }
+            >>> }
+
+            - Checks the validity of the username, email, and password fields
+              separately, and also tells whether an account exists. The password
+              field's validity depends upon both the username and password, and
+              the account's existence depends upon both the username and email.
+            POST /api/user/v1/validation/registration/
+            >>> {
+            >>>     "username": "hi_im_new",
+            >>>     "email": "cto@edx.org",
+            >>>     "password": "p"
+            >>> }
+            RESPONSE
+            >>> {
+            >>>     "validation_decisions": {
+            >>>         "username": "",
+            >>>         "email": "It looks like cto@edx.org belongs to an existing account. Try again with a different email address.",
+            >>>         "password": "Password must be at least 2 characters long",
+            >>>     }
+            >>> }
+            In this example, username is valid and (we assume) there is
+            a preexisting account with that email. The password also seems
+            to contain the username.
+
+            Note that a validation decision is returned *for all* inputs, whether
+            positive or negative.
+
+        **Available Handlers**
+
+            "name":
+                A handler to check the validity of the user's real name.
+            "username":
+                A handler to check the validity of usernames.
+            "email":
+                A handler to check the validity of emails.
+            "confirm_email":
+                A handler to check whether the confirmation email field matches
+                the email field.
+            "password":
+                A handler to check the validity of passwords; a compatibility
+                decision with the username is made if it exists in the input.
+            "country":
+                A handler to check whether the validity of country fields.
+    """
+
+    # This end-point is available to anonymous users, so no authentication is needed.
+    authentication_classes = []
+
+    def name_handler(self, request):
+        name = request.data.get('name')
+        return get_name_validation_error(name)
+
+    def username_handler(self, request):
+        username = request.data.get('username')
+        invalid_username_error = get_username_validation_error(username)
+        username_exists_error = get_username_existence_validation_error(username)
+        # We prefer seeing for invalidity first.
+        # Some invalid usernames (like for superusers) may exist.
+        return invalid_username_error or username_exists_error
+
+    def email_handler(self, request):
+        email = request.data.get('email')
+        invalid_email_error = get_email_validation_error(email)
+        email_exists_error = get_email_existence_validation_error(email)
+        # We prefer seeing for invalidity first.
+        # Some invalid emails (like a blank one for superusers) may exist.
+        return invalid_email_error or email_exists_error
+
+    def confirm_email_handler(self, request):
+        email = request.data.get('email', None)
+        confirm_email = request.data.get('confirm_email')
+        return get_confirm_email_validation_error(confirm_email, email)
+
+    def password_handler(self, request):
+        username = request.data.get('username', None)
+        password = request.data.get('password')
+        return get_password_validation_error(password, username)
+
+    def country_handler(self, request):
+        country = request.data.get('country')
+        return get_country_validation_error(country)
+
+    validation_handlers = {
+        "name": name_handler,
+        "username": username_handler,
+        "email": email_handler,
+        "confirm_email": confirm_email_handler,
+        "password": password_handler,
+        "country": country_handler
+    }
+
+    def post(self, request):
+        """
+        POST /api/user/v1/validation/registration/
+
+        Expects request of the form
+        >>> {
+        >>>     "name": "Dan the Validator",
+        >>>     "username": "mslm",
+        >>>     "email": "mslm@gmail.com",
+        >>>     "confirm_email": "mslm@gmail.com",
+        >>>     "password": "password123",
+        >>>     "country": "PK"
+        >>> }
+        where each key is the appropriate form field name and the value is
+        user input. One may enter individual inputs if needed. Some inputs
+        can get extra verification checks if entered along with others,
+        like when the password may not equal the username.
+        """
+        validation_decisions = {}
+        for form_field_key in self.validation_handlers:
+            # For every field requiring validation from the client,
+            # request a decision for it from the appropriate handler.
+            if form_field_key in request.data:
+                handler = self.validation_handlers[form_field_key]
+                validation_decisions.update({
+                    form_field_key: handler(self, request)
+                })
+        return Response({"validation_decisions": validation_decisions})
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
index 487a31477b..5c94c2a34b 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import third_party_auth
 from django_comment_common.models import Role
 from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_helpers
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.accounts.api import check_account_exists
 from openedx.core.lib.api.authentication import SessionAuthenticationAllowInactiveUser
 from openedx.core.lib.api.permissions import ApiKeyHeaderPermission
 from openedx.features.enterprise_support.api import enterprise_customer_for_request
@@ -31,16 +32,7 @@ from student.forms import get_registration_extension_form
 from student.views import create_account_with_params, AccountValidationError
 from util.json_request import JsonResponse
 
-from .accounts import (
-    EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
-    EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
-    NAME_MAX_LENGTH,
-    PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
-    PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
-    USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
-    USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH
-)
-from .accounts.api import check_account_exists
+import accounts
 from .helpers import FormDescription, require_post_params, shim_student_view
 from .models import UserPreference, UserProfile
 from .preferences.api import get_country_time_zones, update_email_opt_in
@@ -92,8 +84,8 @@ class LoginSessionView(APIView):
             placeholder=email_placeholder,
             instructions=email_instructions,
             restrictions={
-                "min_length": EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
-                "max_length": EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "min_length": accounts.EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
             }
         )
 
@@ -106,8 +98,8 @@ class LoginSessionView(APIView):
             label=password_label,
             field_type="password",
             restrictions={
-                "min_length": PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
-                "max_length": PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "min_length": accounts.PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
             }
         )
 
@@ -340,18 +332,8 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         conflicts = check_account_exists(email=email, username=username)
         if conflicts:
             conflict_messages = {
-                "email": _(
-                    # Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
-                    # account using an email address associated with an existing account.
-                    u"It looks like {email_address} belongs to an existing account. "
-                    u"Try again with a different email address."
-                ).format(email_address=email),
-                "username": _(
-                    # Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
-                    # account using a username associated with an existing account.
-                    u"It looks like {username} belongs to an existing account. "
-                    u"Try again with a different username."
-                ).format(username=username),
+                "email": accounts.EMAIL_CONFLICT_MSG.format(email_address=email),
+                "username": accounts.USERNAME_CONFLICT_MSG.format(username=username),
             }
             errors = {
                 field: [{"user_message": conflict_messages[field]}]
@@ -425,8 +407,8 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
             placeholder=email_placeholder,
             instructions=email_instructions,
             restrictions={
-                "min_length": EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
-                "max_length": EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "min_length": accounts.EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
             },
             required=required
         )
@@ -444,7 +426,7 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         # Translators: This label appears above a field on the registration form
         # meant to confirm the user's email address.
         email_label = _(u"Confirm Email")
-        error_msg = _(u"The email addresses do not match.")
+        error_msg = accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_CONFIRM_EMAIL_MSG
 
         form_desc.add_field(
             "confirm_email",
@@ -483,7 +465,7 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
             placeholder=name_placeholder,
             instructions=name_instructions,
             restrictions={
-                "max_length": NAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.NAME_MAX_LENGTH,
             },
             required=required
         )
@@ -519,8 +501,8 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
             instructions=username_instructions,
             placeholder=username_placeholder,
             restrictions={
-                "min_length": USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH,
-                "max_length": USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "min_length": accounts.USERNAME_MIN_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.USERNAME_MAX_LENGTH,
             },
             required=required
         )
@@ -544,8 +526,8 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
             label=password_label,
             field_type="password",
             restrictions={
-                "min_length": PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
-                "max_length": PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "min_length": accounts.PASSWORD_MIN_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.PASSWORD_MAX_LENGTH,
             },
             required=required
         )
@@ -563,6 +545,7 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         # Translators: This label appears above a dropdown menu on the registration
         # form used to select the user's highest completed level of education.
         education_level_label = _(u"Highest level of education completed")
+        error_msg = accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_LEVEL_OF_EDUCATION_MSG
 
         # The labels are marked for translation in UserProfile model definition.
         options = [(name, _(label)) for name, label in UserProfile.LEVEL_OF_EDUCATION_CHOICES]  # pylint: disable=translation-of-non-string
@@ -572,7 +555,10 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
             field_type="select",
             options=options,
             include_default_option=True,
-            required=required
+            required=required,
+            error_messages={
+                "required": error_msg
+            }
         )
 
     def _add_gender_field(self, form_desc, required=True):
@@ -637,12 +623,16 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         # Translators: This label appears above a field on the registration form
         # meant to hold the user's mailing address.
         mailing_address_label = _(u"Mailing address")
+        error_msg = accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_MAILING_ADDRESS_MSG
 
         form_desc.add_field(
             "mailing_address",
             label=mailing_address_label,
             field_type="textarea",
-            required=required
+            required=required,
+            error_messages={
+                "required": error_msg
+            }
         )
 
     def _add_goals_field(self, form_desc, required=True):
@@ -660,12 +650,16 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         goals_label = _(u"Tell us why you're interested in {platform_name}").format(
             platform_name=configuration_helpers.get_value("PLATFORM_NAME", settings.PLATFORM_NAME)
         )
+        error_msg = accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_GOALS_MSG
 
         form_desc.add_field(
             "goals",
             label=goals_label,
             field_type="textarea",
-            required=required
+            required=required,
+            error_messages={
+                "required": error_msg
+            }
         )
 
     def _add_city_field(self, form_desc, required=True):
@@ -681,11 +675,15 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         # Translators: This label appears above a field on the registration form
         # which allows the user to input the city in which they live.
         city_label = _(u"City")
+        error_msg = accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_CITY_MSG
 
         form_desc.add_field(
             "city",
             label=city_label,
-            required=required
+            required=required,
+            error_messages={
+                "required": error_msg
+            }
         )
 
     def _add_state_field(self, form_desc, required=False):
@@ -801,7 +799,7 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         # Translators: This label appears above a dropdown menu on the registration
         # form used to select the country in which the user lives.
         country_label = _(u"Country")
-        error_msg = _(u"Please select your Country.")
+        error_msg = accounts.REQUIRED_FIELD_COUNTRY_MSG
 
         # If we set a country code, make sure it's uppercase for the sake of the form.
         default_country = form_desc._field_overrides.get('country', {}).get('defaultValue')
@@ -1036,8 +1034,8 @@ class PasswordResetView(APIView):
             placeholder=email_placeholder,
             instructions=email_instructions,
             restrictions={
-                "min_length": EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
-                "max_length": EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
+                "min_length": accounts.EMAIL_MIN_LENGTH,
+                "max_length": accounts.EMAIL_MAX_LENGTH,
             }
         )
 
@@ -1105,7 +1103,9 @@ class PreferenceUsersListView(generics.ListAPIView):
     paginate_by_param = "page_size"
 
     def get_queryset(self):
-        return User.objects.filter(preferences__key=self.kwargs["pref_key"]).prefetch_related("preferences").select_related("profile")
+        return User.objects.filter(
+            preferences__key=self.kwargs["pref_key"]
+        ).prefetch_related("preferences").select_related("profile")
 
 
 class UpdateEmailOptInPreference(APIView):
diff --git a/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py b/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py
index 181429add3..eb8c2a2aa3 100644
--- a/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class ApiTestCase(TestCase):
         return getattr(self.client, method)(*args, HTTP_X_EDX_API_KEY=TEST_API_KEY, **kwargs)
 
     def get_json(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Make a request with the given args and return the parsed JSON repsonse"""
+        """Make a request with the given args and return the parsed JSON response"""
         resp = self.request_with_auth("get", *args, **kwargs)
         self.assertHttpOK(resp)
         self.assertTrue(resp["Content-Type"].startswith("application/json"))