diff --git a/cms/urls.py b/cms/urls.py
index f0514f7aee..28becfbffe 100644
--- a/cms/urls.py
+++ b/cms/urls.py
@@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ urlpatterns = [
         name='group_configurations_detail_handler'),
     url(r'^api/val/v0/', include('edxval.urls')),
     url(r'^api/tasks/v0/', include('user_tasks.urls')),
-    url(r'^accessibility$', contentstore.views.accessibility, name='accessibility')
+    url(r'^accessibility$', contentstore.views.accessibility, name='accessibility'),
+    url(r'^zendesk_proxy/', include('openedx.core.djangoapps.zendesk_proxy.urls')),
 ]
 
 JS_INFO_DICT = {
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index ac0624ee1b..041d819d4a 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -141,6 +141,9 @@ urlpatterns = [
 
     url(r'^dashboard/', include('learner_dashboard.urls')),
     url(r'^api/experiments/', include('experiments.urls', namespace='api_experiments')),
+
+    # Zendesk API proxy endpoint
+    url(r'^zendesk_proxy/', include('openedx.core.djangoapps.zendesk_proxy.urls')),
 ]
 
 # TODO: This needs to move to a separate urls.py once the student_account and
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/README.md b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e693db2384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Zendesk API proxy endpoint
+
+Introduced via [EDUCATOR-1889](https://openedx.atlassian.net/browse/EDUCATOR-1889)
+
+### Purpose
+
+This djangoapp contains no models, just a single view. The intended purpose is to provide a way for unauthenticated POST requests to create ZenDesk tickets. The reason we use this proxy instead of a direct POST is that it allows us to keep ZenDesk credentials private, and rotate them if needed. This proxy endpoint should be rate-limited to avoid abuse.
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/__init__.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/tests/__init__.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/tests/test_views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9e85121d36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/tests/test_views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+"""Tests for zendesk_proxy views."""
+from copy import deepcopy
+import ddt
+import json
+from mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.test.utils import override_settings
+
+from openedx.core.lib.api.test_utils import ApiTestCase
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.zendesk_proxy.v0.views import ZENDESK_REQUESTS_PER_HOUR
+
+
+@ddt.ddt
+@override_settings(
+    ZENDESK_URL="https://www.superrealurlsthataredefinitelynotfake.com",
+    ZENDESK_OAUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN="abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890"
+)
+class ZendeskProxyTestCase(ApiTestCase):
+    """Tests for zendesk_proxy views."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.url = reverse('zendesk_proxy_v0')
+        self.request_data = {
+            'name': 'John Q. Student',
+            'tags': ['python_unit_test'],
+            'email': {
+                'from': 'JohnQStudent@example.com',
+                'subject': 'Python Unit Test Help Request',
+                'message': "Help! I'm trapped in a unit test factory and I can't get out!",
+            }
+        }
+        return super(ZendeskProxyTestCase, self).setUp()
+
+    def test_post(self):
+        with patch('requests.post', return_value=MagicMock(status_code=201)) as mock_post:
+            response = self.request_without_auth(
+                'post',
+                self.url,
+                data=json.dumps(self.request_data),
+                content_type='application/json'
+            )
+            self.assertHttpCreated(response)
+            (mock_args, mock_kwargs) = mock_post.call_args
+            self.assertEqual(mock_args, ('https://www.superrealurlsthataredefinitelynotfake.com/api/v2/tickets.json',))
+            self.assertEqual(
+                mock_kwargs,
+                {
+                    'headers': {
+                        'content-type': 'application/json',
+                        'Authorization': 'Bearer abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890'
+                    },
+                    'data': '{"ticket": {"comment": {"body": "Help! I\'m trapped in a unit test factory and I can\'t get out!"}, "subject": "Python Unit Test Help Request", "tags": ["python_unit_test"], "requester": {"name": "John Q. Student", "email": "JohnQStudent@example.com"}}}'  # pylint: disable=line-too-long
+                }
+            )
+
+    @ddt.data('name', 'tags', 'email')
+    def test_bad_request(self, key_to_delete):
+        test_data = deepcopy(self.request_data)
+        _ = test_data.pop(key_to_delete)
+
+        response = self.request_without_auth(
+            'post',
+            self.url,
+            data=json.dumps(test_data),
+            content_type='application/json'
+        )
+        self.assertHttpBadRequest(response)
+
+    @override_settings(
+        ZENDESK_URL=None,
+        ZENDESK_OAUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN=None
+    )
+    def test_missing_settings(self):
+        response = self.request_without_auth(
+            'post',
+            self.url,
+            data=json.dumps(self.request_data),
+            content_type='application/json'
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 503)
+
+    @ddt.data(201, 400, 401, 403, 404, 500)
+    def test_zendesk_status_codes(self, mock_code):
+        with patch('requests.post', return_value=MagicMock(status_code=mock_code)):
+            response = self.request_without_auth(
+                'post',
+                self.url,
+                data=json.dumps(self.request_data),
+                content_type='application/json'
+            )
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, mock_code)
+
+    def test_unexpected_error_pinging_zendesk(self):
+        with patch('requests.post', side_effect=Exception("WHAMMY")):
+            response = self.request_without_auth(
+                'post',
+                self.url,
+                data=json.dumps(self.request_data),
+                content_type='application/json'
+            )
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 500)
+
+    @override_settings(
+        CACHES={
+            'default': {
+                'BACKEND': 'django.core.cache.backends.locmem.LocMemCache',
+                'LOCATION': 'zendesk_proxy',
+            }
+        }
+    )
+    def test_rate_limiting(self):
+        """
+        Confirm rate limits work as expected. Note that drf's rate limiting makes use of the default cache to enforce
+        limits; that's why this test needs a "real" default cache (as opposed to the usual-for-tests DummyCache)
+        """
+        for _ in range(ZENDESK_REQUESTS_PER_HOUR):
+            self.request_without_auth('post', self.url)
+        response = self.request_without_auth('post', self.url)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 429)
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/urls.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/urls.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..668f5f6d9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/urls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+"""
+Map urls to the relevant view handlers
+"""
+
+from django.conf.urls import url
+
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.zendesk_proxy.v0.views import ZendeskPassthroughView as v0_view
+
+urlpatterns = [
+    url(r'^v0$', v0_view.as_view(), name='zendesk_proxy_v0'),
+]
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/utils.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9a0c3cab4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+"""
+Utility functions for zendesk interaction.
+"""
+import json
+import logging
+from urlparse import urljoin
+
+from django.conf import settings
+import requests
+from rest_framework import status
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def create_zendesk_ticket(requester_name, requester_email, subject, body, tags=None):
+    """
+    Create a Zendesk ticket via API.
+
+    Note that we do this differently in other locations (lms/djangoapps/commerce/signals.py and
+    common/djangoapps/util/views.py). Both of those callers use basic auth, and should be switched over to this oauth
+    implementation once the immediate pressures of zendesk_proxy are resolved.
+    """
+    if not (settings.ZENDESK_URL and settings.ZENDESK_OAUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN):
+        log.debug('Zendesk is not configured. Cannot create a ticket.')
+        return status.HTTP_503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE
+
+    # Remove duplicates from tags list
+    tags = list(set(tags))
+
+    data = {
+        'ticket': {
+            'requester': {
+                'name': requester_name,
+                'email': requester_email
+            },
+            'subject': subject,
+            'comment': {'body': body},
+            'tags': tags
+        }
+    }
+
+    # Encode the data to create a JSON payload
+    payload = json.dumps(data)
+
+    # Set the request parameters
+    url = urljoin(settings.ZENDESK_URL, '/api/v2/tickets.json')
+    headers = {
+        'content-type': 'application/json',
+        'Authorization': "Bearer {}".format(settings.ZENDESK_OAUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN),
+    }
+
+    def _std_error_message(details, payload):
+        """Internal helper to standardize error message. This allows for simpler splunk alerts."""
+        return 'zendesk_proxy action required\n{}\nNo ticket created for payload {}'.format(details, payload)
+
+    try:
+        response = requests.post(url, data=payload, headers=headers)
+
+        # Check for HTTP codes other than 201 (Created)
+        if response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED:
+            log.debug('Successfully created ticket for {}'.format(requester_email))
+        else:
+            log.error(
+                _std_error_message(
+                    'Unexpected response: {} - {}'.format(response.status_code, response.content),
+                    payload
+                )
+            )
+        return response.status_code
+    except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        log.exception(_std_error_message('Internal server error', payload))
+        return status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/v0/__init__.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/v0/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/v0/views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/v0/views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a281b1dee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/zendesk_proxy/v0/views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+"""
+Define request handlers used by the zendesk_proxy djangoapp
+"""
+from rest_framework import status
+from rest_framework.parsers import JSONParser
+from rest_framework.response import Response
+from rest_framework.throttling import SimpleRateThrottle
+from rest_framework.views import APIView
+
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.zendesk_proxy.utils import create_zendesk_ticket
+
+ZENDESK_REQUESTS_PER_HOUR = 15
+
+
+class ZendeskProxyThrottle(SimpleRateThrottle):
+    """
+    Custom throttle rates for this particular endpoint's use case.
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.rate = '{}/hour'.format(ZENDESK_REQUESTS_PER_HOUR)
+        super(ZendeskProxyThrottle, self).__init__()
+
+    def get_cache_key(self, request, view):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+        """
+        By providing a static string here, we are limiting *all* users to the same combined limit.
+        """
+        return "ZendeskProxy_rate_limit_cache_key"
+
+
+class ZendeskPassthroughView(APIView):
+    """
+    An APIView that will take in inputs from an unauthenticated endpoint, and use them to securely create a zendesk
+    ticket.
+    """
+    throttle_classes = ZendeskProxyThrottle,
+    parser_classes = JSONParser,
+
+    def post(self, request):
+        """
+        request body is expected to look like this:
+        {
+            "name": "John Q. Student",
+            "email": {
+                "from": "JohnQStudent@realemailhost.com",
+                "message": "I, John Q. Student, am having problems for the following reasons: ...",
+                "subject": "Help Request"
+            },
+            "tags": ["zendesk_help_request"]
+        }
+        """
+        try:
+            proxy_status = create_zendesk_ticket(
+                requester_name=request.data['name'],
+                requester_email=request.data['email']['from'],
+                subject=request.data['email']['subject'],
+                body=request.data['email']['message'],
+                tags=request.data['tags']
+            )
+        except KeyError:
+            return Response(status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+
+        return Response(
+            status=proxy_status
+        )
diff --git a/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py b/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py
index eb8c2a2aa3..77d8b48675 100644
--- a/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/lib/api/test_utils.py
@@ -24,9 +24,16 @@ class ApiTestCase(TestCase):
         return {'HTTP_AUTHORIZATION': 'Basic ' + base64.b64encode('%s:%s' % (username, password))}
 
     def request_with_auth(self, method, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Issue a get request to the given URI with the API key header"""
+        """Issue a request to the given URI with the API key header"""
         return getattr(self.client, method)(*args, HTTP_X_EDX_API_KEY=TEST_API_KEY, **kwargs)
 
+    def request_without_auth(self, method, *args, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Issue a request to the given URI without the API key header. This may be useful if you'll be calling
+        an endpoint from javascript code and want to avoid exposing our API key.
+        """
+        return getattr(self.client, method)(*args, **kwargs)
+
     def get_json(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Make a request with the given args and return the parsed JSON response"""
         resp = self.request_with_auth("get", *args, **kwargs)
@@ -52,6 +59,10 @@ class ApiTestCase(TestCase):
         """Assert that the given response has the status code 200"""
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
 
+    def assertHttpCreated(self, response):
+        """Assert that the given response has the status code 201"""
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 201)
+
     def assertHttpForbidden(self, response):
         """Assert that the given response has the status code 403"""
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)