diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py b/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
index 48c956669b..7afbb383d6 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/forms.py
@@ -2,16 +2,23 @@
 Utility functions for validating forms
 """
 from django import forms
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.contrib.auth.forms import PasswordResetForm
 from django.contrib.auth.hashers import UNUSABLE_PASSWORD
 from django.contrib.auth.tokens import default_token_generator
 
 from django.utils.http import int_to_base36
+from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.template import loader
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from microsite_configuration import microsite
+from util.password_policy_validators import (
+    validate_password_length,
+    validate_password_complexity,
+    validate_password_dictionary,
+)
 
 
 class PasswordResetFormNoActive(PasswordResetForm):
@@ -70,3 +77,160 @@ class PasswordResetFormNoActive(PasswordResetForm):
             subject = subject.replace('\n', '')
             email = loader.render_to_string(email_template_name, context)
             send_mail(subject, email, from_email, [user.email])
+
+
+class TrueField(forms.BooleanField):
+    """
+    A boolean field that only accepts "true" (case-insensitive) as true
+    """
+    def to_python(self, value):
+        # CheckboxInput converts string to bool by case-insensitive match to "true" or "false"
+        if value is True:
+            return value
+        else:
+            return None
+
+
+_USERNAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG = _("Username must be minimum of two characters long")
+_EMAIL_INVALID_MSG = _("A properly formatted e-mail is required")
+_PASSWORD_INVALID_MSG = _("A valid password is required")
+_NAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG = _("Your legal name must be a minimum of two characters long")
+
+
+class AccountCreationForm(forms.Form):
+    """
+    A form to for account creation data. It is currently only used for
+    validation, not rendering.
+    """
+    # TODO: Resolve repetition
+    username = forms.SlugField(
+        min_length=2,
+        max_length=30,
+        error_messages={
+            "required": _USERNAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG,
+            "invalid": _("Username should only consist of A-Z and 0-9, with no spaces."),
+            "min_length": _USERNAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG,
+            "max_length": _("Username cannot be more than %(limit_value)s characters long"),
+        }
+    )
+    email = forms.EmailField(
+        max_length=75,  # Limit per RFCs is 254, but User's email field in django 1.4 only takes 75
+        error_messages={
+            "required": _EMAIL_INVALID_MSG,
+            "invalid": _EMAIL_INVALID_MSG,
+            "max_length": _("Email cannot be more than %(limit_value)s characters long"),
+        }
+    )
+    password = forms.CharField(
+        min_length=2,
+        error_messages={
+            "required": _PASSWORD_INVALID_MSG,
+            "min_length": _PASSWORD_INVALID_MSG,
+        }
+    )
+    name = forms.CharField(
+        min_length=2,
+        error_messages={
+            "required": _NAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG,
+            "min_length": _NAME_TOO_SHORT_MSG,
+        }
+    )
+
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            data=None,
+            extra_fields=None,
+            extended_profile_fields=None,
+            enforce_username_neq_password=False,
+            enforce_password_policy=False,
+            tos_required=True
+    ):
+        super(AccountCreationForm, self).__init__(data)
+
+        extra_fields = extra_fields or {}
+        self.extended_profile_fields = extended_profile_fields or {}
+        self.enforce_username_neq_password = enforce_username_neq_password
+        self.enforce_password_policy = enforce_password_policy
+        if tos_required:
+            self.fields["terms_of_service"] = TrueField(
+                error_messages={"required": _("You must accept the terms of service.")}
+            )
+
+        # TODO: These messages don't say anything about minimum length
+        error_message_dict = {
+            "level_of_education": _("A level of education is required"),
+            "gender": _("Your gender is required"),
+            "year_of_birth": _("Your year of birth is required"),
+            "mailing_address": _("Your mailing address is required"),
+            "goals": _("A description of your goals is required"),
+            "city": _("A city is required"),
+            "country": _("A country is required")
+        }
+        for field_name, field_value in extra_fields.items():
+            if field_name not in self.fields:
+                if field_name == "honor_code":
+                    if field_value == "required":
+                        self.fields[field_name] = TrueField(
+                            error_messages={
+                                "required": _("To enroll, you must follow the honor code.")
+                            }
+                        )
+                else:
+                    required = field_value == "required"
+                    min_length = 1 if field_name in ("gender", "level_of_education") else 2
+                    error_message = error_message_dict.get(
+                        field_name,
+                        _("You are missing one or more required fields")
+                    )
+                    self.fields[field_name] = forms.CharField(
+                        required=required,
+                        min_length=min_length,
+                        error_messages={
+                            "required": error_message,
+                            "min_length": error_message,
+                        }
+                    )
+
+        for field in self.extended_profile_fields:
+            if field not in self.fields:
+                self.fields[field] = forms.CharField(required=False)
+
+    def clean_password(self):
+        """Enforce password policies (if applicable)"""
+        password = self.cleaned_data["password"]
+        if (
+                self.enforce_username_neq_password and
+                "username" in self.cleaned_data and
+                self.cleaned_data["username"] == password
+        ):
+            raise ValidationError(_("Username and password fields cannot match"))
+        if self.enforce_password_policy:
+            try:
+                validate_password_length(password)
+                validate_password_complexity(password)
+                validate_password_dictionary(password)
+            except ValidationError, err:
+                raise ValidationError(_("Password: ") + "; ".join(err.messages))
+        return password
+
+    def clean_year_of_birth(self):
+        """
+        Parse year_of_birth to an integer, but just use None instead of raising
+        an error if it is malformed
+        """
+        try:
+            year_str = self.cleaned_data["year_of_birth"]
+            return int(year_str) if year_str is not None else None
+        except ValueError:
+            return None
+
+    @property
+    def cleaned_extended_profile(self):
+        """
+        Return a dictionary containing the extended_profile_fields and values
+        """
+        return {
+            key: value
+            for key, value in self.cleaned_data.items()
+            if key in self.extended_profile_fields and value is not None
+        }
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_random_users.py b/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_random_users.py
index 088d4484ab..ba44c58020 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_random_users.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_random_users.py
@@ -8,26 +8,30 @@ from student.models import CourseEnrollment
 from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 from opaque_keys.edx.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
+from student.forms import AccountCreationForm
 from student.views import _do_create_account
 
 
-def get_random_post_override():
+def make_random_form():
     """
     Generate unique user data for dummy users.
     """
     identification = uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]
-    return {
-        'username': 'user_{id}'.format(id=identification),
-        'email': 'email_{id}@example.com'.format(id=identification),
-        'password': '12345',
-        'name': 'User {id}'.format(id=identification),
-    }
+    return AccountCreationForm(
+        data={
+            'username': 'user_{id}'.format(id=identification),
+            'email': 'email_{id}@example.com'.format(id=identification),
+            'password': '12345',
+            'name': 'User {id}'.format(id=identification),
+        },
+        tos_required=False
+    )
 
 
 def create(num, course_key):
     """Create num users, enrolling them in course_key if it's not None"""
     for idx in range(num):
-        (user, user_profile, __) = _do_create_account(get_random_post_override())
+        (user, _, _) = _do_create_account(make_random_form())
         if course_key is not None:
             CourseEnrollment.enroll(user, course_key)
 
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_user.py b/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_user.py
index 2da0a6e4fa..4da9519baf 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_user.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/management/commands/create_user.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from django.utils import translation
 from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 from opaque_keys.edx.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
+from student.forms import AccountCreationForm
 from student.models import CourseEnrollment, Registration, create_comments_service_user
 from student.views import _do_create_account, AccountValidationError
 from track.management.tracked_command import TrackedCommand
@@ -80,21 +81,22 @@ class Command(TrackedCommand):
             except InvalidKeyError:
                 course = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(options['course'])
 
-        post_data = {
-            'username': username,
-            'email': options['email'],
-            'password': options['password'],
-            'name': name,
-            'honor_code': u'true',
-            'terms_of_service': u'true',
-        }
+        form = AccountCreationForm(
+            data={
+                'username': username,
+                'email': options['email'],
+                'password': options['password'],
+                'name': name,
+            },
+            tos_required=False
+        )
         # django.utils.translation.get_language() will be used to set the new
         # user's preferred language.  This line ensures that the result will
         # match this installation's default locale.  Otherwise, inside a
         # management command, it will always return "en-us".
         translation.activate(settings.LANGUAGE_CODE)
         try:
-            user, profile, reg = _do_create_account(post_data)
+            user, _, reg = _do_create_account(form)
             if options['staff']:
                 user.is_staff = True
                 user.save()
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py
index 68f97357d1..3a9a5b0180 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_create_account.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 "Tests for account creation"
+import json
 
 import ddt
 import unittest
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
 from django.utils.importlib import import_module
 from django.test import TestCase, TransactionTestCase
+from django.test.utils import override_settings
 
 import mock
 
@@ -24,6 +26,21 @@ TEST_CS_URL = 'https://comments.service.test:123/'
 
 
 @ddt.ddt
+@override_settings(
+    MICROSITE_CONFIGURATION={
+        "microsite": {
+            "domain_prefix": "microsite",
+            "extended_profile_fields": ["extra1", "extra2"],
+        }
+    },
+    REGISTRATION_EXTRA_FIELDS={
+        key: "optional"
+        for key in [
+            "level_of_education", "gender", "mailing_address", "city", "country", "goals",
+            "year_of_birth"
+        ]
+    }
+)
 class TestCreateAccount(TestCase):
     "Tests for account creation"
 
@@ -55,6 +72,109 @@ class TestCreateAccount(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
         self.assertEqual(UserPreference.get_preference(user, LANGUAGE_KEY), lang)
 
+    def create_account_and_fetch_profile(self):
+        """
+        Create an account with self.params, assert that the response indicates
+        success, and return the UserProfile object for the newly created user
+        """
+        response = self.client.post(self.url, self.params, HTTP_HOST="microsite.example.com")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        user = User.objects.get(username=self.username)
+        return user.profile
+
+    def test_marketing_cookie(self):
+        response = self.client.post(self.url, self.params)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertIn(settings.EDXMKTG_COOKIE_NAME, self.client.cookies)
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(
+        "microsite_configuration.middleware.MicrositeMiddleware" in settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES,
+        "Microsites not implemented in this environment"
+    )
+    def test_profile_saved_no_optional_fields(self):
+        profile = self.create_account_and_fetch_profile()
+        self.assertEqual(profile.name, self.params["name"])
+        self.assertEqual(profile.level_of_education, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.gender, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.mailing_address, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.city, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.country, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.goals, "")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            profile.get_meta(),
+            {
+                "extra1": "",
+                "extra2": "",
+            }
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(profile.year_of_birth)
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(
+        "microsite_configuration.middleware.MicrositeMiddleware" in settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES,
+        "Microsites not implemented in this environment"
+    )
+    def test_profile_saved_all_optional_fields(self):
+        self.params.update({
+            "level_of_education": "a",
+            "gender": "o",
+            "mailing_address": "123 Example Rd",
+            "city": "Exampleton",
+            "country": "US",
+            "goals": "To test this feature",
+            "year_of_birth": "2015",
+            "extra1": "extra_value1",
+            "extra2": "extra_value2",
+        })
+        profile = self.create_account_and_fetch_profile()
+        self.assertEqual(profile.level_of_education, "a")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.gender, "o")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.mailing_address, "123 Example Rd")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.city, "Exampleton")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.country, "US")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.goals, "To test this feature")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            profile.get_meta(),
+            {
+                "extra1": "extra_value1",
+                "extra2": "extra_value2",
+            }
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(profile.year_of_birth, 2015)
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(
+        "microsite_configuration.middleware.MicrositeMiddleware" in settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES,
+        "Microsites not implemented in this environment"
+    )
+    def test_profile_saved_empty_optional_fields(self):
+        self.params.update({
+            "level_of_education": "",
+            "gender": "",
+            "mailing_address": "",
+            "city": "",
+            "country": "",
+            "goals": "",
+            "year_of_birth": "",
+            "extra1": "",
+            "extra2": "",
+        })
+        profile = self.create_account_and_fetch_profile()
+        self.assertEqual(profile.level_of_education, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.gender, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.mailing_address, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.city, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.country, "")
+        self.assertEqual(profile.goals, "")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            profile.get_meta(),
+            {"extra1": "", "extra2": ""}
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(profile.year_of_birth, None)
+
+    def test_profile_year_of_birth_non_integer(self):
+        self.params["year_of_birth"] = "not_an_integer"
+        profile = self.create_account_and_fetch_profile()
+        self.assertIsNone(profile.year_of_birth)
+
     def base_extauth_bypass_sending_activation_email(self, bypass_activation_email_for_extauth_setting):
         """
         Tests user creation without sending activation email when
@@ -112,6 +232,236 @@ class TestCreateAccount(TestCase):
                 self.assertIsNone(preference)
 
 
+@ddt.ddt
+class TestCreateAccountValidation(TestCase):
+    """
+    Test validation of various parameters in the create_account view
+    """
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestCreateAccountValidation, self).setUp()
+        self.url = reverse("create_account")
+        self.minimal_params = {
+            "username": "test_username",
+            "email": "test_email@example.com",
+            "password": "test_password",
+            "name": "Test Name",
+            "honor_code": "true",
+            "terms_of_service": "true",
+        }
+
+    def assert_success(self, params):
+        """
+        Request account creation with the given params and assert that the
+        response properly indicates success
+        """
+        response = self.client.post(self.url, params)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        response_data = json.loads(response.content)
+        self.assertTrue(response_data["success"])
+
+    def assert_error(self, params, expected_field, expected_value):
+        """
+        Request account creation with the given params and assert that the
+        response properly indicates an error with the given field and value
+        """
+        response = self.client.post(self.url, params)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
+        response_data = json.loads(response.content)
+        self.assertFalse(response_data["success"])
+        self.assertEqual(response_data["field"], expected_field)
+        self.assertEqual(response_data["value"], expected_value)
+
+    def test_minimal_success(self):
+        self.assert_success(self.minimal_params)
+
+    def test_username(self):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_username_error(expected_error):
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, "username", expected_error)
+
+        # Missing
+        del params["username"]
+        assert_username_error("Username must be minimum of two characters long")
+
+        # Empty, too short
+        for username in ["", "a"]:
+            params["username"] = username
+            assert_username_error("Username must be minimum of two characters long")
+
+        # Too long
+        params["username"] = "this_username_has_31_characters"
+        assert_username_error("Username cannot be more than 30 characters long")
+
+        # Invalid
+        params["username"] = "invalid username"
+        assert_username_error("Username should only consist of A-Z and 0-9, with no spaces.")
+
+    def test_email(self):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_email_error(expected_error):
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, "email", expected_error)
+
+        # Missing
+        del params["email"]
+        assert_email_error("A properly formatted e-mail is required")
+
+        # Empty, too short
+        for email in ["", "a"]:
+            params["email"] = email
+            assert_email_error("A properly formatted e-mail is required")
+
+        # Too long
+        params["email"] = "this_email_address_has_76_characters_in_it_so_it_is_unacceptable@example.com"
+        assert_email_error("Email cannot be more than 75 characters long")
+
+        # Invalid
+        params["email"] = "not_an_email_address"
+        assert_email_error("A properly formatted e-mail is required")
+
+    def test_password(self):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_password_error(expected_error):
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, "password", expected_error)
+
+        # Missing
+        del params["password"]
+        assert_password_error("A valid password is required")
+
+        # Empty, too short
+        for password in ["", "a"]:
+            params["password"] = password
+            assert_password_error("A valid password is required")
+
+        # Password policy is tested elsewhere
+
+        # Matching username
+        params["username"] = params["password"] = "test_username_and_password"
+        assert_password_error("Username and password fields cannot match")
+
+    def test_name(self):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_name_error(expected_error):
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, "name", expected_error)
+
+        # Missing
+        del params["name"]
+        assert_name_error("Your legal name must be a minimum of two characters long")
+
+        # Empty, too short
+        for name in ["", "a"]:
+            params["name"] = name
+            assert_name_error("Your legal name must be a minimum of two characters long")
+
+    def test_honor_code(self):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_honor_code_error(expected_error):
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, "honor_code", expected_error)
+
+        with override_settings(REGISTRATION_EXTRA_FIELDS={"honor_code": "required"}):
+            # Missing
+            del params["honor_code"]
+            assert_honor_code_error("To enroll, you must follow the honor code.")
+
+            # Empty, invalid
+            for honor_code in ["", "false", "not_boolean"]:
+                params["honor_code"] = honor_code
+                assert_honor_code_error("To enroll, you must follow the honor code.")
+
+            # True
+            params["honor_code"] = "tRUe"
+            self.assert_success(params)
+
+        with override_settings(REGISTRATION_EXTRA_FIELDS={"honor_code": "optional"}):
+            # Missing
+            del params["honor_code"]
+            # Need to change username/email because user was created above
+            params["username"] = "another_test_username"
+            params["email"] = "another_test_email@example.com"
+            self.assert_success(params)
+
+    def test_terms_of_service(self):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_terms_of_service_error(expected_error):
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, "terms_of_service", expected_error)
+
+        # Missing
+        del params["terms_of_service"]
+        assert_terms_of_service_error("You must accept the terms of service.")
+
+        # Empty, invalid
+        for terms_of_service in ["", "false", "not_boolean"]:
+            params["terms_of_service"] = terms_of_service
+            assert_terms_of_service_error("You must accept the terms of service.")
+
+        # True
+        params["terms_of_service"] = "tRUe"
+        self.assert_success(params)
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        ("level_of_education", 1, "A level of education is required"),
+        ("gender", 1, "Your gender is required"),
+        ("year_of_birth", 2, "Your year of birth is required"),
+        ("mailing_address", 2, "Your mailing address is required"),
+        ("goals", 2, "A description of your goals is required"),
+        ("city", 2, "A city is required"),
+        ("country", 2, "A country is required"),
+        ("custom_field", 2, "You are missing one or more required fields")
+    )
+    @ddt.unpack
+    def test_extra_fields(self, field, min_length, expected_error):
+        params = dict(self.minimal_params)
+
+        def assert_extra_field_error():
+            """
+            Assert that requesting account creation results in the expected
+            error
+            """
+            self.assert_error(params, field, expected_error)
+
+        with override_settings(REGISTRATION_EXTRA_FIELDS={field: "required"}):
+            # Missing
+            assert_extra_field_error()
+
+            # Empty
+            params[field] = ""
+            assert_extra_field_error()
+
+            # Too short
+            if min_length > 1:
+                params[field] = "a"
+                assert_extra_field_error()
+
+
 @mock.patch.dict("student.models.settings.FEATURES", {"ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE": True})
 @mock.patch("lms.lib.comment_client.User.base_url", TEST_CS_URL)
 @mock.patch("lms.lib.comment_client.utils.requests.request", return_value=mock.Mock(status_code=200, text='{}'))
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
index 25f32adffa..ee69b8bd10 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ from student.models import (
     CourseEnrollmentAllowed, UserStanding, LoginFailures,
     create_comments_service_user, PasswordHistory, UserSignupSource,
     DashboardConfiguration, LinkedInAddToProfileConfiguration)
-from student.forms import PasswordResetFormNoActive
+from student.forms import AccountCreationForm, PasswordResetFormNoActive
 
 from verify_student.models import SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification, MidcourseReverificationWindow
 from certificates.models import CertificateStatuses, certificate_status_for_student
@@ -1337,7 +1337,7 @@ def user_signup_handler(sender, **kwargs):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
             log.info(u'user {} originated from a white labeled "Microsite"'.format(kwargs['instance'].id))
 
 
-def _do_create_account(post_vars, extended_profile=None):
+def _do_create_account(form):
     """
     Given cleaned post variables, create the User and UserProfile objects, as well as the
     registration for this user.
@@ -1346,10 +1346,15 @@ def _do_create_account(post_vars, extended_profile=None):
 
     Note: this function is also used for creating test users.
     """
-    user = User(username=post_vars['username'],
-                email=post_vars['email'],
-                is_active=False)
-    user.set_password(post_vars['password'])
+    if not form.is_valid():
+        raise ValidationError(form.errors)
+
+    user = User(
+        username=form.cleaned_data["username"],
+        email=form.cleaned_data["email"],
+        is_active=False
+    )
+    user.set_password(form.cleaned_data["password"])
     registration = Registration()
 
     # TODO: Rearrange so that if part of the process fails, the whole process fails.
@@ -1358,14 +1363,14 @@ def _do_create_account(post_vars, extended_profile=None):
         user.save()
     except IntegrityError:
         # Figure out the cause of the integrity error
-        if len(User.objects.filter(username=post_vars['username'])) > 0:
+        if len(User.objects.filter(username=user.username)) > 0:
             raise AccountValidationError(
-                _("An account with the Public Username '{username}' already exists.").format(username=post_vars['username']),
+                _("An account with the Public Username '{username}' already exists.").format(username=user.username),
                 field="username"
             )
-        elif len(User.objects.filter(email=post_vars['email'])) > 0:
+        elif len(User.objects.filter(email=user.email)) > 0:
             raise AccountValidationError(
-                _("An account with the Email '{email}' already exists.").format(email=post_vars['email']),
+                _("An account with the Email '{email}' already exists.").format(email=user.email),
                 field="email"
             )
         else:
@@ -1378,25 +1383,17 @@ def _do_create_account(post_vars, extended_profile=None):
 
     registration.register(user)
 
-    profile = UserProfile(user=user)
-    profile.name = post_vars['name']
-    profile.level_of_education = post_vars.get('level_of_education')
-    profile.gender = post_vars.get('gender')
-    profile.mailing_address = post_vars.get('mailing_address')
-    profile.city = post_vars.get('city')
-    profile.country = post_vars.get('country')
-    profile.goals = post_vars.get('goals')
-
-    # add any extended profile information in the denormalized 'meta' field in the profile
+    profile_fields = [
+        "name", "level_of_education", "gender", "mailing_address", "city", "country", "goals",
+        "year_of_birth"
+    ]
+    profile = UserProfile(
+        user=user,
+        **{key: form.cleaned_data.get(key) for key in profile_fields}
+    )
+    extended_profile = form.cleaned_extended_profile
     if extended_profile:
         profile.meta = json.dumps(extended_profile)
-
-    try:
-        profile.year_of_birth = int(post_vars['year_of_birth'])
-    except (ValueError, KeyError):
-        # If they give us garbage, just ignore it instead
-        # of asking them to put an integer.
-        profile.year_of_birth = None
     try:
         profile.save()
     except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
@@ -1408,15 +1405,23 @@ def _do_create_account(post_vars, extended_profile=None):
     return (user, profile, registration)
 
 
-@csrf_exempt
-def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many-statements
+def create_account_with_params(request, params):
     """
-    JSON call to create new edX account.
-    Used by form in signup_modal.html, which is included into navigation.html
-    """
-    js = {'success': False}  # pylint: disable-msg=invalid-name
+    Given a request and a dict of parameters (which may or may not have come
+    from the request), create an account for the requesting user, including
+    creating a comments service user object and sending an activation email.
+    This also takes external/third-party auth into account, updates that as
+    necessary, and authenticates the user for the request's session.
 
-    post_vars = post_override if post_override else request.POST
+    Does not return anything.
+
+    Raises AccountValidationError if an account with the username or email
+    specified by params already exists, or ValidationError if any of the given
+    parameters is invalid for any other reason.
+    """
+    # Copy params so we can modify it; we can't just do dict(params) because if
+    # params is request.POST, that results in a dict containing lists of values
+    params = dict(params.items())
 
     # allow for microsites to define their own set of required/optional/hidden fields
     extra_fields = microsite.get_value(
@@ -1425,42 +1430,30 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
     )
 
     if third_party_auth.is_enabled() and pipeline.running(request):
-        post_vars = dict(post_vars.items())
-        post_vars.update({'password': pipeline.make_random_password()})
+        params["password"] = pipeline.make_random_password()
 
     # if doing signup for an external authorization, then get email, password, name from the eamap
     # don't use the ones from the form, since the user could have hacked those
     # unless originally we didn't get a valid email or name from the external auth
+    # TODO: We do not check whether these values meet all necessary criteria, such as email length
     do_external_auth = 'ExternalAuthMap' in request.session
     if do_external_auth:
         eamap = request.session['ExternalAuthMap']
         try:
             validate_email(eamap.external_email)
-            email = eamap.external_email
+            params["email"] = eamap.external_email
         except ValidationError:
-            email = post_vars.get('email', '')
-        if eamap.external_name.strip() == '':
-            name = post_vars.get('name', '')
-        else:
-            name = eamap.external_name
-        password = eamap.internal_password
-        post_vars = dict(post_vars.items())
-        post_vars.update(dict(email=email, name=name, password=password))
-        log.debug(u'In create_account with external_auth: user = %s, email=%s', name, email)
-
-    # Confirm we have a properly formed request
-    for req_field in ['username', 'email', 'password', 'name']:
-        if req_field not in post_vars:
-            js['value'] = _("Error (401 {field}). E-mail us.").format(field=req_field)
-            js['field'] = req_field
-            return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-    if extra_fields.get('honor_code', 'required') == 'required' and \
-            post_vars.get('honor_code', 'false') != u'true':
-        js['value'] = _("To enroll, you must follow the honor code.")
-        js['field'] = 'honor_code'
-        return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
+            pass
+        if eamap.external_name.strip() != '':
+            params["name"] = eamap.external_name
+        params["password"] = eamap.internal_password
+        log.debug(u'In create_account with external_auth: user = %s, email=%s', params["name"], params["email"])
 
+    extended_profile_fields = microsite.get_value('extended_profile_fields', [])
+    enforce_password_policy = (
+        settings.FEATURES.get("ENFORCE_PASSWORD_POLICY", False) and
+        not do_external_auth
+    )
     # Can't have terms of service for certain SHIB users, like at Stanford
     tos_required = (
         not settings.FEATURES.get("AUTH_USE_SHIB") or
@@ -1471,122 +1464,17 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
         )
     )
 
-    if tos_required:
-        if post_vars.get('terms_of_service', 'false') != u'true':
-            js['value'] = _("You must accept the terms of service.")
-            js['field'] = 'terms_of_service'
-            return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
+    form = AccountCreationForm(
+        data=params,
+        extra_fields=extra_fields,
+        extended_profile_fields=extended_profile_fields,
+        enforce_username_neq_password=True,
+        enforce_password_policy=enforce_password_policy,
+        tos_required=tos_required
+    )
 
-    # Confirm appropriate fields are there.
-    # TODO: Check e-mail format is correct.
-    # TODO: Confirm e-mail is not from a generic domain (mailinator, etc.)? Not sure if
-    # this is a good idea
-    # TODO: Check password is sane
-
-    required_post_vars = ['username', 'email', 'name', 'password']
-    required_post_vars += [fieldname for fieldname, val in extra_fields.items()
-                           if val == 'required']
-    if tos_required:
-        required_post_vars.append('terms_of_service')
-
-    for field_name in required_post_vars:
-        if field_name in ('gender', 'level_of_education'):
-            min_length = 1
-        else:
-            min_length = 2
-
-        if field_name not in post_vars or len(post_vars[field_name]) < min_length:
-            error_str = {
-                'username': _('Username must be minimum of two characters long'),
-                'email': _('A properly formatted e-mail is required'),
-                'name': _('Your legal name must be a minimum of two characters long'),
-                'password': _('A valid password is required'),
-                'terms_of_service': _('Accepting Terms of Service is required'),
-                'honor_code': _('Agreeing to the Honor Code is required'),
-                'level_of_education': _('A level of education is required'),
-                'gender': _('Your gender is required'),
-                'year_of_birth': _('Your year of birth is required'),
-                'mailing_address': _('Your mailing address is required'),
-                'goals': _('A description of your goals is required'),
-                'city': _('A city is required'),
-                'country': _('A country is required')
-            }
-
-            if field_name in error_str:
-                js['value'] = error_str[field_name]
-            else:
-                js['value'] = _('You are missing one or more required fields')
-
-            js['field'] = field_name
-            return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-        max_length = 75
-        if field_name == 'username':
-            max_length = 30
-
-        if field_name in ('email', 'username') and len(post_vars[field_name]) > max_length:
-            error_str = {
-                'username': _('Username cannot be more than {num} characters long').format(num=max_length),
-                'email': _('Email cannot be more than {num} characters long').format(num=max_length)
-            }
-            js['value'] = error_str[field_name]
-            js['field'] = field_name
-            return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-    try:
-        validate_email(post_vars['email'])
-    except ValidationError:
-        js['value'] = _("Valid e-mail is required.")
-        js['field'] = 'email'
-        return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-    try:
-        validate_slug(post_vars['username'])
-    except ValidationError:
-        js['value'] = _("Username should only consist of A-Z and 0-9, with no spaces.")
-        js['field'] = 'username'
-        return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-    # enforce password complexity as an optional feature
-    # but not if we're doing ext auth b/c those pws never get used and are auto-generated so might not pass validation
-    if settings.FEATURES.get('ENFORCE_PASSWORD_POLICY', False) and not do_external_auth:
-        try:
-            password = post_vars['password']
-
-            validate_password_length(password)
-            validate_password_complexity(password)
-            validate_password_dictionary(password)
-        except ValidationError, err:
-            js['value'] = _('Password: ') + '; '.join(err.messages)
-            js['field'] = 'password'
-            return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-    # allow microsites to define 'extended profile fields' which are
-    # captured on user signup (for example via an overriden registration.html)
-    # and then stored in the UserProfile
-    extended_profile_fields = microsite.get_value('extended_profile_fields', [])
-    extended_profile = None
-
-    for field in extended_profile_fields:
-        if field in post_vars:
-            if not extended_profile:
-                extended_profile = {}
-            extended_profile[field] = post_vars[field]
-
-    # Make sure that password and username fields do not match
-    username = post_vars['username']
-    password = post_vars['password']
-    if username == password:
-        js['value'] = _("Username and password fields cannot match")
-        js['field'] = 'username'
-        return JsonResponse(js, status=400)
-
-    # Ok, looks like everything is legit.  Create the account.
-    try:
-        with transaction.commit_on_success():
-            ret = _do_create_account(post_vars, extended_profile)
-    except AccountValidationError as exc:
-        return JsonResponse({'success': False, 'value': exc.message, 'field': exc.field}, status=400)
+    with transaction.commit_on_success():
+        ret = _do_create_account(form)
 
     (user, profile, registration) = ret
 
@@ -1598,14 +1486,12 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
 
     dog_stats_api.increment("common.student.account_created")
 
-    email = post_vars['email']
-
     # Track the user's registration
     if settings.FEATURES.get('SEGMENT_IO_LMS') and hasattr(settings, 'SEGMENT_IO_LMS_KEY'):
         tracking_context = tracker.get_tracker().resolve_context()
         analytics.identify(user.id, {
-            'email': email,
-            'username': username,
+            'email': user.email,
+            'username': user.username,
         })
 
         # If the user is registering via 3rd party auth, track which provider they use
@@ -1620,7 +1506,7 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
             "edx.bi.user.account.registered",
             {
                 'category': 'conversion',
-                'label': request.POST.get('course_id'),
+                'label': params.get('course_id'),
                 'provider': provider_name
             },
             context={
@@ -1633,7 +1519,7 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
     create_comments_service_user(user)
 
     context = {
-        'name': post_vars['name'],
+        'name': profile.name,
         'key': registration.activation_key,
     }
 
@@ -1664,16 +1550,11 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
                 user.email_user(subject, message, from_address)
         except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
             log.error(u'Unable to send activation email to user from "%s"', from_address, exc_info=True)
-            js['value'] = _('Could not send activation e-mail.')
-            # What is the correct status code to use here? I think it's 500, because
-            # the problem is on the server's end -- but also, the account was created.
-            # Seems like the core part of the request was successful.
-            return JsonResponse(js, status=500)
 
     # Immediately after a user creates an account, we log them in. They are only
     # logged in until they close the browser. They can't log in again until they click
     # the activation link from the email.
-    new_user = authenticate(username=post_vars['username'], password=post_vars['password'])
+    new_user = authenticate(username=user.username, password=params['password'])
     login(request, new_user)
     request.session.set_expiry(0)
 
@@ -1686,8 +1567,8 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
         eamap.user = new_user
         eamap.dtsignup = datetime.datetime.now(UTC)
         eamap.save()
-        AUDIT_LOG.info(u"User registered with external_auth %s", post_vars['username'])
-        AUDIT_LOG.info(u'Updated ExternalAuthMap for %s to be %s', post_vars['username'], eamap)
+        AUDIT_LOG.info(u"User registered with external_auth %s", new_user.username)
+        AUDIT_LOG.info(u'Updated ExternalAuthMap for %s to be %s', new_user.username, eamap)
 
         if settings.FEATURES.get('BYPASS_ACTIVATION_EMAIL_FOR_EXTAUTH'):
             log.info('bypassing activation email')
@@ -1695,7 +1576,55 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
             new_user.save()
             AUDIT_LOG.info(u"Login activated on extauth account - {0} ({1})".format(new_user.username, new_user.email))
 
-    dog_stats_api.increment("common.student.account_created")
+
+def set_marketing_cookie(request, response):
+    """
+    Set the login cookie for the edx marketing site on the given response. Its
+    expiration will match that of the given request's session.
+    """
+    if request.session.get_expire_at_browser_close():
+        max_age = None
+        expires = None
+    else:
+        max_age = request.session.get_expiry_age()
+        expires_time = time.time() + max_age
+        expires = cookie_date(expires_time)
+
+    # we want this cookie to be accessed via javascript
+    # so httponly is set to None
+    response.set_cookie(
+        settings.EDXMKTG_COOKIE_NAME,
+        'true',
+        max_age=max_age,
+        expires=expires,
+        domain=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN,
+        path='/',
+        secure=None,
+        httponly=None
+    )
+
+
+@csrf_exempt
+def create_account(request, post_override=None):
+    """
+    JSON call to create new edX account.
+    Used by form in signup_modal.html, which is included into navigation.html
+    """
+    try:
+        create_account_with_params(request, post_override or request.POST)
+    except AccountValidationError as exc:
+        return JsonResponse({'success': False, 'value': exc.message, 'field': exc.field}, status=400)
+    except ValidationError as exc:
+        field, error_list = next(exc.message_dict.iteritems())
+        return JsonResponse(
+            {
+                "success": False,
+                "field": field,
+                "value": error_list[0],
+            },
+            status=400
+        )
+
     redirect_url = try_change_enrollment(request)
 
     # Resume the third-party-auth pipeline if necessary.
@@ -1707,25 +1636,7 @@ def create_account(request, post_override=None):  # pylint: disable-msg=too-many
         'success': True,
         'redirect_url': redirect_url,
     })
-
-    # set the login cookie for the edx marketing site
-    # we want this cookie to be accessed via javascript
-    # so httponly is set to None
-
-    if request.session.get_expire_at_browser_close():
-        max_age = None
-        expires = None
-    else:
-        max_age = request.session.get_expiry_age()
-        expires_time = time.time() + max_age
-        expires = cookie_date(expires_time)
-
-    response.set_cookie(settings.EDXMKTG_COOKIE_NAME,
-                        'true', max_age=max_age,
-                        expires=expires, domain=settings.SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN,
-                        path='/',
-                        secure=None,
-                        httponly=None)
+    set_marketing_cookie(request, response)
     return response
 
 
@@ -1764,21 +1675,21 @@ def auto_auth(request):
     role_names = [v.strip() for v in request.GET.get('roles', '').split(',') if v.strip()]
     login_when_done = 'no_login' not in request.GET
 
-    # Get or create the user object
-    post_data = {
-        'username': username,
-        'email': email,
-        'password': password,
-        'name': full_name,
-        'honor_code': u'true',
-        'terms_of_service': u'true',
-    }
+    form = AccountCreationForm(
+        data={
+            'username': username,
+            'email': email,
+            'password': password,
+            'name': full_name,
+        },
+        tos_required=False
+    )
 
     # Attempt to create the account.
     # If successful, this will return a tuple containing
     # the new user object.
     try:
-        user, _profile, reg = _do_create_account(post_data)
+        user, _profile, reg = _do_create_account(form)
     except AccountValidationError:
         # Attempt to retrieve the existing user.
         user = User.objects.get(username=username)
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/tests/discussion/test_cohort_management.py b/common/test/acceptance/tests/discussion/test_cohort_management.py
index 07da9bdbfa..2a99c78c20 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/tests/discussion/test_cohort_management.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/tests/discussion/test_cohort_management.py
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ class CohortConfigurationTest(UniqueCourseTest, CohortTestMixin):
         ).visit().get_user_id()
         self.add_user_to_cohort(self.course_fixture, self.student_name, self.manual_cohort_id)
 
-        # create a user with unicode characters in their username
-        self.unicode_student_id = AutoAuthPage(
-            self.browser, username="Ωπ", email="unicode_student_user@example.com",
+        # create a second student user
+        self.other_student_id = AutoAuthPage(
+            self.browser, username="other_student_user", email="other_student_user@example.com",
             course_id=self.course_id, staff=False
         ).visit().get_user_id()
 
@@ -389,12 +389,12 @@ class CohortConfigurationTest(UniqueCourseTest, CohortTestMixin):
             }).count(),
             1
         )
-        # unicode_student_user (previously unassigned) is added to manual cohort
+        # other_student_user (previously unassigned) is added to manual cohort
         self.assertEqual(
             self.event_collection.find({
                 "name": "edx.cohort.user_added",
                 "time": {"$gt": start_time},
-                "event.user_id": {"$in": [int(self.unicode_student_id)]},
+                "event.user_id": {"$in": [int(self.other_student_id)]},
                 "event.cohort_name": self.manual_cohort_name,
             }).count(),
             1
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/tests/test_cohorted_courseware.py b/common/test/acceptance/tests/test_cohorted_courseware.py
index b702352a6d..00f42cd14e 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/tests/test_cohorted_courseware.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/tests/test_cohorted_courseware.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class EndToEndCohortedCoursewareTest(ContainerBase):
         ).visit()
 
         # Create a student who will end up in the default cohort group
-        self.cohort_default_student_username = "cohort default student"
+        self.cohort_default_student_username = "cohort_default_student"
         self.cohort_default_student_email = "cohort_default_student@example.com"
         StudioAutoAuthPage(
             self.browser, username=self.cohort_default_student_username,
diff --git a/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_both_columns.csv b/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_both_columns.csv
index eced3db09d..ee13b56c7c 100644
--- a/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_both_columns.csv
+++ b/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_both_columns.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 username,email,ignored_column,cohort
 instructor_user,,June,ManualCohort1
 ,student_user@example.com,Spring,AutoCohort1
-Ωπ,,Fall,ManualCohort1
+other_student_user,,Fall,ManualCohort1
diff --git a/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_email.csv b/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_email.csv
index 7835d455fb..7fb6a85400 100644
--- a/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_email.csv
+++ b/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_email.csv
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 email,cohort
 instructor_user@example.com,ManualCohort1
 student_user@example.com,AutoCohort1
-unicode_student_user@example.com,ManualCohort1
+other_student_user@example.com,ManualCohort1
 
diff --git a/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_username.csv b/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_username.csv
index 0c7588030a..f33b77a0a2 100644
--- a/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_username.csv
+++ b/common/test/data/uploads/cohort_users_only_username.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 username,cohort
 instructor_user,ManualCohort1
 student_user,AutoCohort1
-Ωπ,ManualCohort1
\ No newline at end of file
+other_student_user,ManualCohort1
diff --git a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
index bf3ad8ae2c..c3cdf65c50 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/spec/student_account/register_spec.js
@@ -261,12 +261,8 @@ define([
             submitForm( true );
 
             // Verify that the client sent the course ID for analytics
-            var expectedData = {};
-            $.extend(expectedData, USER_DATA, {
-                analytics: JSON.stringify({
-                    enroll_course_id: COURSE_ID
-                })
-            });
+            var expectedData = {course_id: COURSE_ID};
+            $.extend(expectedData, USER_DATA);
 
             AjaxHelpers.expectRequest(
                 requests, 'POST',
diff --git a/lms/static/js/student_account/models/RegisterModel.js b/lms/static/js/student_account/models/RegisterModel.js
index ca8b953c5b..47a97c2367 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/student_account/models/RegisterModel.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/student_account/models/RegisterModel.js
@@ -32,20 +32,17 @@ var edx = edx || {};
         sync: function(method, model) {
             var headers = { 'X-CSRFToken': $.cookie('csrftoken') },
                 data = {},
-                analytics,
                 courseId = $.url( '?course_id' );
 
             // If there is a course ID in the query string param,
             // send that to the server as well so it can be included
             // in analytics events.
             if ( courseId ) {
-                analytics = JSON.stringify({
-                    enroll_course_id: decodeURIComponent( courseId )
-                });
+                data.course_id = decodeURIComponent(courseId);
             }
 
             // Include all form fields and analytics info in the data sent to the server
-            $.extend( data, model.attributes, { analytics: analytics });
+            $.extend( data, model.attributes);
 
             $.ajax({
                 url: model.urlRoot,
diff --git a/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js b/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
index ef7fc9854d..f93814603d 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/student_account/views/RegisterView.js
@@ -58,7 +58,22 @@ var edx = edx || {};
 
         saveSuccess: function() {
             this.trigger('auth-complete');
-        }
+        },
         
+        saveError: function( error ) {
+            this.errors = _.flatten(
+                _.map(
+                    JSON.parse(error.responseText),
+                    function(error_list) {
+                        return _.map(
+                            error_list,
+                            function(error) { return "<li>" + error.user_message + "</li>"; }
+                        );
+                    }
+                )
+            );
+            this.setErrors();
+            this.toggleDisableButton(false);
+        }
     });
 })(jQuery, _, gettext);
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/helpers.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/helpers.py
index bb85be6fa9..a99c53767c 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/helpers.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/helpers.py
@@ -374,16 +374,6 @@ def shim_student_view(view_func, check_logged_in=False):
                     )
                 )
 
-        # Backwards compatibility: the student view expects both
-        # terms of service and honor code values.  Since we're combining
-        # these into a single checkbox, the only value we may get
-        # from the new view is "honor_code".
-        # Longer term, we will need to make this more flexible to support
-        # open source installations that may have separate checkboxes
-        # for TOS, privacy policy, etc.
-        if request.POST.get("honor_code") is not None and request.POST.get("terms_of_service") is None:
-            request.POST["terms_of_service"] = request.POST.get("honor_code")
-
         # Call the original view to generate a response.
         # We can safely modify the status code or content
         # of the response, but to be safe we won't mess
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
index 616315d8cf..02eb0f3e90 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -1233,6 +1233,7 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ApiTestCase):
             "honor_code": "true",
         })
         self.assertHttpOK(response)
+        self.assertIn(settings.EDXMKTG_COOKIE_NAME, self.client.cookies)
 
         # Verify that the user exists
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -1367,11 +1368,19 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ApiTestCase):
             "honor_code": "true",
         })
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 409)
+        response_json = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(
-            response.content,
-            "It looks like {} belongs to an existing account. Try again with a different email address.".format(
-                self.EMAIL
-            )
+            response_json,
+            {
+                "email": [{
+                    "user_message": (
+                        "It looks like {} belongs to an existing account. "
+                        "Try again with a different email address."
+                    ).format(
+                        self.EMAIL
+                    )
+                }]
+            }
         )
 
     def test_register_duplicate_username(self):
@@ -1394,11 +1403,19 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ApiTestCase):
             "honor_code": "true",
         })
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 409)
+        response_json = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(
-            response.content,
-            "It looks like {} belongs to an existing account. Try again with a different username.".format(
-                self.USERNAME
-            )
+            response_json,
+            {
+                "username": [{
+                    "user_message": (
+                        "It looks like {} belongs to an existing account. "
+                        "Try again with a different username."
+                    ).format(
+                        self.USERNAME
+                    )
+                }]
+            }
         )
 
     def test_register_duplicate_username_and_email(self):
@@ -1421,11 +1438,46 @@ class RegistrationViewTest(ApiTestCase):
             "honor_code": "true",
         })
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 409)
+        response_json = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(
-            response.content,
-            "It looks like {} and {} belong to an existing account. Try again with a different email address and username.".format(
-                self.EMAIL, self.USERNAME
-            )
+            response_json,
+            {
+                "username": [{
+                    "user_message": (
+                        "It looks like {} belongs to an existing account. "
+                        "Try again with a different username."
+                    ).format(
+                        self.USERNAME
+                    )
+                }],
+                "email": [{
+                    "user_message": (
+                        "It looks like {} belongs to an existing account. "
+                        "Try again with a different email address."
+                    ).format(
+                        self.EMAIL
+                    )
+                }]
+            }
+        )
+
+    def test_missing_fields(self):
+        response = self.client.post(
+            self.url,
+            {
+                "email": self.EMAIL,
+                "name": self.NAME,
+                "honor_code": "true",
+            }
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
+        response_json = json.loads(response.content)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            response_json,
+            {
+                "username": [{"user_message": "Username must be minimum of two characters long"}],
+                "password": [{"user_message": "A valid password is required"}],
+            }
         )
 
     def _assert_reg_field(self, extra_fields_setting, expected_field):
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
index eaf7828d02..929c7133d1 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/views.py
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.http import HttpResponse
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
-from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
+from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured, NON_FIELD_ERRORS, ValidationError
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 from django.utils.decorators import method_decorator
-from django.views.decorators.csrf import ensure_csrf_cookie, csrf_protect
+from django.views.decorators.csrf import ensure_csrf_cookie, csrf_protect, csrf_exempt
 from opaque_keys.edx import locator
 from rest_framework import authentication
 from rest_framework import filters
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ from django_comment_common.models import Role
 from opaque_keys.edx.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
 from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
 
+from student.views import create_account_with_params, set_marketing_cookie
 from util.authentication import SessionAuthenticationAllowInactiveUser
+from util.json_request import JsonResponse
 from .api import account as account_api, profile as profile_api
 from .helpers import FormDescription, shim_student_view, require_post_params
 from .models import UserPreference, UserProfile
@@ -225,17 +227,14 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
 
         return HttpResponse(form_desc.to_json(), content_type="application/json")
 
-    @method_decorator(require_post_params(DEFAULT_FIELDS))
-    @method_decorator(csrf_protect)
+    @method_decorator(csrf_exempt)
     def post(self, request):
         """Create the user's account.
 
         You must send all required form fields with the request.
 
-        You can optionally send an `analytics` param with a JSON-encoded
-        object with additional info to include in the registration analytics event.
-        Currently, the only supported field is "enroll_course_id" to indicate
-        that the user registered while enrolling in a particular course.
+        You can optionally send a "course_id" param to indicate in analytics
+        events that the user registered while enrolling in a particular course.
 
         Arguments:
             request (HTTPRequest)
@@ -243,45 +242,60 @@ class RegistrationView(APIView):
         Returns:
             HttpResponse: 200 on success
             HttpResponse: 400 if the request is not valid.
-            HttpResponse: 302 if redirecting to another page.
-
+            HttpResponse: 409 if an account with the given username or email
+                address already exists
         """
-        email = request.POST.get('email')
-        username = request.POST.get('username')
+        data = request.POST.copy()
+
+        email = data.get('email')
+        username = data.get('username')
 
         # Handle duplicate email/username
         conflicts = account_api.check_account_exists(email=email, username=username)
         if conflicts:
-            if all(conflict in conflicts for conflict in ['email', 'username']):
-                # Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
-                # account using both an email address and a username associated with an
-                # existing account.
-                error_msg = _(
-                    u"It looks like {email_address} and {username} belong to an existing account. Try again with a different email address and username."
-                ).format(email_address=email, username=username)
-            elif 'email' in conflicts:
+            conflict_messages = {
                 # Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
                 # account using an email address associated with an existing account.
-                error_msg = _(
+                "email": _(
                     u"It looks like {email_address} belongs to an existing account. Try again with a different email address."
-                ).format(email_address=email)
-            else:
+                ).format(email_address=email),
                 # Translators: This message is shown to users who attempt to create a new
                 # account using a username associated with an existing account.
-                error_msg = _(
+                "username": _(
                     u"It looks like {username} belongs to an existing account. Try again with a different username."
-                ).format(username=username)
+                ).format(username=username),
+            }
+            errors = {
+                field: [{"user_message": conflict_messages[field]}]
+                for field in conflicts
+            }
+            return JsonResponse(errors, status=409)
 
-            return HttpResponse(
-                status=409,
-                content=error_msg,
-                content_type="text/plain"
-            )
+        # Backwards compatibility: the student view expects both
+        # terms of service and honor code values.  Since we're combining
+        # these into a single checkbox, the only value we may get
+        # from the new view is "honor_code".
+        # Longer term, we will need to make this more flexible to support
+        # open source installations that may have separate checkboxes
+        # for TOS, privacy policy, etc.
+        if data.get("honor_code") and "terms_of_service" not in data:
+            data["terms_of_service"] = data["honor_code"]
 
-        # For the initial implementation, shim the existing login view
-        # from the student Django app.
-        from student.views import create_account
-        return shim_student_view(create_account)(request)
+        try:
+            create_account_with_params(request, data)
+        except ValidationError as err:
+            # Should only get non-field errors from this function
+            assert NON_FIELD_ERRORS not in err.message_dict
+            # Only return first error for each field
+            errors = {
+                field: [{"user_message": error} for error in error_list]
+                for field, error_list in err.message_dict.items()
+            }
+            return JsonResponse(errors, status=400)
+
+        response = JsonResponse({"success": True})
+        set_marketing_cookie(request, response)
+        return response
 
     def _add_email_field(self, form_desc, required=True):
         """Add an email field to a form description.