diff --git a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
index ebe86ff8f8..1910dd548e 100644
--- a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
+++ b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
@@ -19,6 +19,21 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
 </%block>
 
 <%block name="content">
+
+%if error:
+<div class="wrapper-msg wrapper-msg-error">
+  <div class=" msg msg-error">
+    <i class="msg-icon icon-warning-sign"></i>
+    <div class="msg-content">
+      <h3 class="title">Sorry, there was an error when trying to register you</h3>
+      <div class="copy">
+        <p>${error}</p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+%endif
+
 <div class="container">
   <section class="wrapper">
 
@@ -31,19 +46,6 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
       </h2>
     </header>
 
-    %if error:
-    <div class="wrapper-msg wrapper-msg-error">
-      <i class="icon icon-warning-sign expandable-icon"></i>
-
-      <div class=" msg msg-error">
-        <h3 class="title">Sorry, there was an error when trying to register you</h3>
-        <div class="copy">
-          <p>${error}</p>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-    </div>
-    %endif
-
     <div class="wrapper-register-choose wrapper-content-main">
       <article class="register-choose content-main">
         <h3 class="title">Select your track:</h3>
@@ -87,7 +89,7 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
               %if error:
               <div class="msg msg-error msg-inline">
                 <div class="copy">
-                  <p>${error}</p>
+                  <p><i class="msg-icon icon-warning-sign"></i> ${error}</p>
                 </div>
               </div>
               %endif
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss b/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss
index 46ba69d89d..6364523401 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ $m-pink: #B52A67;
 $m-pink-l1: #CA2F73;
 $m-pink-l2: #D33F80;
 $m-pink-l3: #D7548E;
+$m-pink-l4: tint($m-pink,75%);
+$m-pink-l5: tint($m-pink,85%);
 $m-pink-d1: #A0255B;
 $m-pink-d2: #8C204F;
 $m-pink-d3: #771C44;
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss b/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss
index c83be5b18f..764d19f6b7 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss
@@ -291,45 +291,77 @@
 
   // ====================
 
-  // UI: error
-  .wrapper-msg-error {
-    position: relative;
-    top: -($baseline*0.75);
+  // UI : message
+  .wrapper-msg {
     width: flex-grid(12,12);
-    margin-bottom: $baseline;
-    border-top: ($baseline/4) solid $red;
-    padding: ($baseline*0.75) $baseline;
-    background: tint($red, 95%);
+    margin: 0 auto ($baseline*1.5) auto;
+    border-bottom: ($baseline/4) solid $m-blue;
+    padding: $baseline ($baseline*1.5);
+    background: tint($m-blue, 95%);
 
-    .msg-error, .icon {
+    .msg-content, .msg-icon {
       display: inline-block;
       vertical-align: middle;
     }
 
-    .msg-error {
-      @include clearfix();
+    .msg-content {
       width: flex-grid(11,12);
 
       .title {
-        @extend .t-title5;
+        @extend .t-title6;
         @extend .t-weight4;
-        color: $red;
       }
 
       .copy {
-        @extend .t-copy-base;
-        color: $red;
+        @extend .t-copy-sub1;
       }
     }
 
-    .icon {
+    .msg-icon {
       width: flex-grid(1,12);
       @extend .t-icon2;
-      color: $red;
       text-align: center;
+      color: $m-blue;
     }
   }
 
+  // UI: error
+  .wrapper-msg-error {
+    border-bottom-color: $red;
+    background: tint($red, 95%);
+
+    .msg-icon {
+      color: $red;
+    }
+
+    .msg-content {
+
+      .title {
+        color: $red;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // UI: error
+  .wrapper-msg-activate {
+    border-bottom-color: $m-pink;
+    background: tint($m-pink, 95%);
+
+    .msg-icon {
+      color: $m-pink;
+    }
+
+    .msg-content {
+
+      .title {
+        color: $m-pink;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ====================
+
+  // UI: inline messages
   .msg-inline {
 
     &.msg-error {
@@ -1247,6 +1279,7 @@
         min-height: ($baseline*15);
         float: left;
         margin-right: flex-gutter();
+        border-color: $m-green-l3;
         text-align: center;
 
         &:last-child {
@@ -1257,7 +1290,7 @@
           @extend .t-title5;
           @extend .t-weight4;
           padding: $baseline;
-          border-bottom: 1px solid $m-green-l2;
+          border-bottom: 1px solid $m-green-l3;
           background: $m-green-l4;
 
         }
@@ -1316,6 +1349,42 @@
           padding: ($baseline/2) $baseline;
         }
       }
+
+      // specific requirements
+      .req-activate {
+        float: left;
+        text-align: center;
+        border-color: $m-pink-l4;
+
+        .title {
+          @extend .t-title4;
+          @extend .t-weight4;
+          border-bottom-color: $m-pink-l4;
+          background: $m-pink-l5;
+        }
+
+        .placeholder-art {
+          background: $m-pink-l4;
+        }
+
+        .copy-super {
+          @extend .t-copy-lead1;
+          color: $m-pink;
+        }
+
+        .copy-sub {
+          @extend .t-copy-base;
+        }
+      }
+
+      // CASE: account not activated
+      &.account-not-activated {
+
+        .req {
+          width: flex-grid(3,12);
+          min-height: ($baseline*18);
+        }
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html b/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html
index 7edb3be3b2..81aa8ef321 100644
--- a/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html
+++ b/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html
@@ -5,6 +5,20 @@
 <%block name="title"><title>${("Register for [Course Name]")}</title></%block>
 
 <%block name="content">
+%if is_not_active:
+<div class="wrapper-msg wrapper-msg-activate">
+  <div class=" msg msg-activate">
+    <i class="msg-icon icon-warning-sign"></i>
+    <div class="msg-content">
+      <h3 class="title">You need to activate your account before proceeding</h3>
+      <div class="copy">
+        <p>Please check your email for further instructions on verifying your new account.</p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+%endif
+
 <div class="container">
   <section class="wrapper">
 
@@ -21,9 +35,6 @@
         </span>
       </h2>
     </header>
-    %if is_not_active: 
-    <p>I AM NOT ACTIVE.</p>
-    %endif
 
     <div class="wrapper-progress">
       <section class="progress">
@@ -78,7 +89,23 @@
           <p>There are a few things you will need to register as an ID verified student:</p>
         </div>
 
-        <ul class="list-reqs">
+        <ul class="list-reqs account-not-activated ${"account-not-activated" if is_not_active else ""}">
+          %if is_not_active:
+          <li class="req req-0 req-activate">
+            <h4 class="title">Activate Your Account</h4>
+            <div class="placeholder-art">
+              <i class="icon-envelope-alt"></i>
+            </div>
+
+            <div class="copy">
+              <p>
+                <span class="copy-super">Check Your Email</span>
+                <span class="copy-sub">Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum.</span>
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </li>
+          %endif
+
           <li class="req req-1 req-id">
             <h4 class="title">Identification</h4>
             <div class="placeholder-art">
@@ -123,12 +150,12 @@
           </li>
         </ul>
 
-        <nav class="nav-wizard">
+        <nav class="nav-wizard ${"is-not-ready" if is_not_active else "is-ready"}">
           <span class="help help-inline">Missing something? You can always <a href="">audit this course instead</a></span>
 
           <ol class="wizard-steps">
             <li class="wizard-step">
-            <a class="next action-primary" id="face_next_button" href="${reverse('verify_student_verify', kwargs={'course_id': course_id})}">Go to Step 1: Take my Photo</a>
+            <a class="next action-primary ${"disabled" if is_not_active else ""}" id="face_next_button" href="${reverse('verify_student_verify', kwargs={'course_id': course_id})}">Go to Step 1: Take my Photo</a>
             </li>
           </ol>
         </nav>