diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/milestones_helpers.py b/common/djangoapps/util/milestones_helpers.py
index 839b9519d9..b30c4a21d9 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/util/milestones_helpers.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/milestones_helpers.py
@@ -345,14 +345,19 @@ def add_course_content_milestone(course_id, content_id, relationship, milestone)
     return milestones_api.add_course_content_milestone(course_id, content_id, relationship, milestone)
 
 
-def get_course_content_milestones(course_id, content_id, relationship):
+def get_course_content_milestones(course_id, content_id, relationship, user_id=None):
     """
     Client API operation adapter/wrapper
     """
     if not settings.FEATURES.get('MILESTONES_APP', False):
         return []
     from milestones import api as milestones_api
-    return milestones_api.get_course_content_milestones(course_id, content_id, relationship)
+    return milestones_api.get_course_content_milestones(
+        course_id,
+        content_id,
+        relationship,
+        {'id': user_id} if user_id else None
+    )
 
 
 def remove_course_content_user_milestones(course_key, content_key, user, relationship):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py
index e6063dbdf5..c6b75b4920 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from django.utils.timezone import UTC
 
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey, UsageKey
 
+from util import milestones_helpers as milestones_helpers
 from xblock.core import XBlock
 
 from xmodule.course_module import (
@@ -552,19 +553,18 @@ def _has_access_descriptor(user, action, descriptor, course_key=None):
         students to see modules.  If not, views should check the course, so we
         don't have to hit the enrollments table on every module load.
         """
-        response = (
-            _visible_to_nonstaff_users(descriptor)
-            and _has_group_access(descriptor, user, course_key)
-            and
-            (
-                _has_detached_class_tag(descriptor)
-                or _can_access_descriptor_with_start_date(user, descriptor, course_key)
-            )
-        )
+        if _has_staff_access_to_descriptor(user, descriptor, course_key):
+            return ACCESS_GRANTED
 
+        # if the user has staff access, they can load the module so this code doesn't need to run
         return (
-            ACCESS_GRANTED if (response or _has_staff_access_to_descriptor(user, descriptor, course_key))
-            else response
+            _visible_to_nonstaff_users(descriptor) and
+            _can_access_descriptor_with_milestones(user, descriptor, course_key) and
+            _has_group_access(descriptor, user, course_key) and
+            (
+                _has_detached_class_tag(descriptor) or
+                _can_access_descriptor_with_start_date(user, descriptor, course_key)
+            )
         )
 
     checkers = {
@@ -801,6 +801,22 @@ def _visible_to_nonstaff_users(descriptor):
     return VisibilityError() if descriptor.visible_to_staff_only else ACCESS_GRANTED
 
 
+def _can_access_descriptor_with_milestones(user, descriptor, course_key):
+    """
+    Returns if the object is blocked by an unfulfilled milestone.
+
+    Args:
+        user: the user trying to access this content
+        descriptor: the object being accessed
+        course_key: key for the course for this descriptor
+    """
+    if milestones_helpers.get_course_content_milestones(course_key, descriptor.location, 'requires', user.id):
+        debug("Deny: user has not completed all milestones for content")
+        return ACCESS_DENIED
+    else:
+        return ACCESS_GRANTED
+
+
 def _has_detached_class_tag(descriptor):
     """
     Returns if the given descriptor's type is marked as detached.
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/grades.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/grades.py
index 4acf3e8fb1..c809e01fb8 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/grades.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/grades.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 from opaque_keys.edx.locator import BlockUsageLocator
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.content.block_structure.api import get_course_in_cache
 from openedx.core.lib.cache_utils import memoized
-from openedx.core.lib.gating import api as gating_api
 from courseware.model_data import FieldDataCache, ScoresClient
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.signals.signals import GRADES_UPDATED
 from student.models import anonymous_id_for_user
@@ -513,9 +512,6 @@ def _progress_summary(student, course, course_structure=None):
             unicode(course.id), anonymous_id_for_user(student, course.id)
         )
 
-    # Check for gated content
-    gated_content = gating_api.get_gated_content(course, student)
-
     chapters = []
     locations_to_weighted_scores = {}
 
@@ -523,9 +519,6 @@ def _progress_summary(student, course, course_structure=None):
         chapter = course_structure[chapter_key]
         sections = []
         for section_key in course_structure.get_children(chapter_key):
-            if unicode(section_key) in gated_content:
-                continue
-
             section = course_structure[section_key]
 
             graded = getattr(section, 'graded', False)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py
index adea910ae7..981edf0f59 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/module_render.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ from xblock.exceptions import NoSuchHandlerError, NoSuchViewError
 from xblock.reference.plugins import FSService
 
 import static_replace
-from openedx.core.lib.gating import api as gating_api
 from courseware.access import has_access, get_user_role
 from courseware.entrance_exams import (
     get_entrance_exam_score,
@@ -164,9 +163,6 @@ def toc_for_course(user, request, course, active_chapter, active_section, field_
         # before the rest of the content is made available
         required_content = milestones_helpers.get_required_content(course, user)
 
-        # Check for gated content
-        gated_content = gating_api.get_gated_content(course, user)
-
         # The user may not actually have to complete the entrance exam, if one is required
         if not user_must_complete_entrance_exam(request, user, course):
             required_content = [content for content in required_content if not content == course.entrance_exam_id]
@@ -189,9 +185,7 @@ def toc_for_course(user, request, course, active_chapter, active_section, field_
 
             sections = list()
             for section in chapter.get_display_items():
-                # skip the section if it is gated/hidden from the user
-                if gated_content and unicode(section.location) in gated_content:
-                    continue
+                # skip the section if it is hidden from the user
                 if section.hide_from_toc:
                     continue
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py
index 4c9b4ec742..79fa236064 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py
@@ -1111,6 +1111,7 @@ class TestGatedSubsectionRendering(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, MilestonesTestCase
 
         return None
 
+    @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'MILESTONES_APP': True})
     def test_toc_with_gated_sequential(self):
         """
         Test generation of TOC for a course with a gated subsection
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
index fd949de385..1644f53250 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
@@ -1787,7 +1787,7 @@ class TestIndexView(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @ddt.ddt
-class TestIndewViewWithVerticalPositions(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestIndexViewWithVerticalPositions(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test the index view to handle vertical positions. Confirms that first position is loaded
     if input position is non-positive or greater than number of positions available.
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ class TestIndewViewWithVerticalPositions(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         """
         Set up initial test data
         """
-        super(TestIndewViewWithVerticalPositions, self).setUp()
+        super(TestIndexViewWithVerticalPositions, self).setUp()
 
         self.user = UserFactory()
 
@@ -1875,6 +1875,7 @@ class TestIndexViewWithGating(ModuleStoreTestCase, MilestonesTestCaseMixin):
 
         CourseEnrollmentFactory(user=self.user, course_id=self.course.id)
 
+    @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'MILESTONES_APP': True})
     def test_index_with_gated_sequential(self):
         """
         Test index view with a gated sequential raises Http404
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/index.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/index.py
index e102eb27d4..a361898eff 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/index.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/index.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import urllib
 from lang_pref import LANGUAGE_KEY
 from xblock.fragment import Fragment
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
-from openedx.core.lib.gating import api as gating_api
 from openedx.core.lib.time_zone_utils import get_user_time_zone
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.preferences.api import get_user_preference
 from shoppingcart.models import CourseRegistrationCode
@@ -143,7 +142,6 @@ class CoursewareIndex(View):
 
             if self.chapter and self.section:
                 self._redirect_if_not_requested_section()
-                self._verify_section_not_gated()
                 self._save_positions()
                 self._prefetch_and_bind_section()
 
@@ -272,15 +270,6 @@ class CoursewareIndex(View):
                     self.chapter_url_name = exam_chapter.url_name
                     self.section_url_name = exam_section.url_name
 
-    def _verify_section_not_gated(self):
-        """
-        Verify whether the section is gated and accessible to the user.
-        """
-        gated_content = gating_api.get_gated_content(self.course, self.effective_user)
-        if gated_content:
-            if unicode(self.section.location) in gated_content:
-                raise Http404
-
     def _get_language_preference(self):
         """
         Returns the preferred language for the actual user making the request.