diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_bulk_email_settings.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_bulk_email_settings.py
index 5965807897..a0e5a1b401 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_bulk_email_settings.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_bulk_email_settings.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ Course Auth is turned on.
 
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, NoReverseMatch
-from unittest.case import SkipTest
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+import unittest
 
 from courseware.tests.tests import TEST_DATA_MONGO_MODULESTORE
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseEnrollmentFactory
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from mock import patch
 
 
 @override_settings(MODULESTORE=TEST_DATA_MONGO_MODULESTORE)
+@unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
 class TestStudentDashboardEmailView(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Check for email view displayed with flag
@@ -35,11 +36,7 @@ class TestStudentDashboardEmailView(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=student, course_id=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=student.username, password="test")
 
-        try:
-            # URL for dashboard
-            self.url = reverse('dashboard')
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest("Skip this test if url cannot be found (ie running from CMS tests)")
+        self.url = reverse('dashboard')
         # URL for email settings modal
         self.email_modal_link = (
             ('<a href="#email-settings-modal" class="email-settings" rel="leanModal" '
@@ -92,6 +89,7 @@ class TestStudentDashboardEmailView(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @override_settings(MODULESTORE=TEST_DATA_MIXED_MODULESTORE)
+@unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
 class TestStudentDashboardEmailViewXMLBacked(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Check for email view on student dashboard, with XML backed course.
@@ -107,11 +105,7 @@ class TestStudentDashboardEmailViewXMLBacked(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         )
         self.client.login(username=student.username, password="test")
 
-        try:
-            # URL for dashboard
-            self.url = reverse('dashboard')
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest("Skip this test if url cannot be found (ie running from CMS tests)")
+        self.url = reverse('dashboard')
 
         # URL for email settings modal
         self.email_modal_link = (
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_change_name.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_change_name.py
index d2cb85b318..eaba100b37 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_change_name.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_change_name.py
@@ -3,15 +3,17 @@ Unit tests for change_name view of student.
 """
 import json
 
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, NoReverseMatch
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.test.client import Client
 from django.test import TestCase
 
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
 from student.models import UserProfile
-from unittest.case import SkipTest
+import unittest
 
 
+@unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
 class TestChangeName(TestCase):
     """
     Check the change_name view of student.
@@ -22,14 +24,14 @@ class TestChangeName(TestCase):
 
     def test_change_name_get_request(self):
         """Get requests are not allowed in this view."""
-        change_name_url = self.get_url()
+        change_name_url = reverse('change_name')
         resp = self.client.get(change_name_url)
         self.assertEquals(resp.status_code, 405)
 
     def test_change_name_post_request(self):
         """Name will be changed when provided with proper data."""
         self.client.login(username=self.student.username, password='test')
-        change_name_url = self.get_url()
+        change_name_url = reverse('change_name')
         resp = self.client.post(change_name_url, {
             'new_name': 'waqas',
             'rationale': 'change identity'
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ class TestChangeName(TestCase):
     def test_change_name_without_name(self):
         """Empty string for name is not allowed in this view."""
         self.client.login(username=self.student.username, password='test')
-        change_name_url = self.get_url()
+        change_name_url = reverse('change_name')
         resp = self.client.post(change_name_url, {
             'new_name': '',
             'rationale': 'change identity'
@@ -54,17 +56,9 @@ class TestChangeName(TestCase):
 
     def test_unauthenticated(self):
         """Unauthenticated user is not allowed to call this view."""
-        change_name_url = self.get_url()
+        change_name_url = reverse('change_name')
         resp = self.client.post(change_name_url, {
             'new_name': 'waqas',
             'rationale': 'change identity'
         })
         self.assertEquals(resp.status_code, 404)
-
-    def get_url(self):
-        """Get the url of change_name view."""
-        try:
-            change_name_url = reverse('change_name')
-            return change_name_url
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest("Skip this test if url cannot be found (ie running from CMS tests)")
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_userstanding.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_userstanding.py
index c6f9cdcbc7..07b2d4a688 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_userstanding.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_userstanding.py
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 These are tests for disabling and enabling student accounts, and for making sure
 that students with disabled accounts are unable to access the courseware.
 """
+import unittest
+
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, UserStandingFactory
 from student.models import UserStanding
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.test import TestCase, Client
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, NoReverseMatch
-from nose.plugins.skip import SkipTest
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 
 
 class UserStandingTest(TestCase):
@@ -48,27 +50,21 @@ class UserStandingTest(TestCase):
             changed_by=self.admin
         )
 
-        # set different stock urls for lms and cms
-        # to test disabled accounts' access to site
-        try:
-            self.some_url = reverse('dashboard')
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            self.some_url = '/course/'
+        # set stock url to test disabled accounts' access to site
+        self.some_url = '/'
 
         # since it's only possible to disable accounts from lms, we're going
         # to skip tests for cms
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
     def test_disable_account(self):
         self.assertEqual(
             UserStanding.objects.filter(user=self.good_user).count(), 0
         )
-        try:
-            response = self.admin_client.post(reverse('disable_account_ajax'), {
-                'username': self.good_user.username,
-                'account_action': 'disable',
-            })
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest()
+        response = self.admin_client.post(reverse('disable_account_ajax'), {
+            'username': self.good_user.username,
+            'account_action': 'disable',
+        })
         self.assertEqual(
             UserStanding.objects.get(user=self.good_user).account_status,
             UserStanding.ACCOUNT_DISABLED
@@ -78,37 +74,31 @@ class UserStandingTest(TestCase):
         response = self.bad_user_client.get(self.some_url)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
     def test_reenable_account(self):
-        try:
-            response = self.admin_client.post(reverse('disable_account_ajax'), {
-                'username': self.bad_user.username,
-                'account_action': 'reenable'
-            })
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest()
+        response = self.admin_client.post(reverse('disable_account_ajax'), {
+            'username': self.bad_user.username,
+            'account_action': 'reenable'
+        })
         self.assertEqual(
             UserStanding.objects.get(user=self.bad_user).account_status,
             UserStanding.ACCOUNT_ENABLED
         )
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
     def test_non_staff_cant_access_disable_view(self):
-        try:
-            response = self.non_staff_client.get(reverse('manage_user_standing'), {
-                'user': self.non_staff,
-            })
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest()
+        response = self.non_staff_client.get(reverse('manage_user_standing'), {
+            'user': self.non_staff,
+        })
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
     def test_non_staff_cant_disable_account(self):
-        try:
-            response = self.non_staff_client.post(reverse('disable_account_ajax'), {
-                'username': self.good_user.username,
-                'user': self.non_staff,
-                'account_action': 'disable'
-            })
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest()
+        response = self.non_staff_client.post(reverse('disable_account_ajax'), {
+            'username': self.good_user.username,
+            'user': self.non_staff,
+            'account_action': 'disable'
+        })
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
         self.assertEqual(
             UserStanding.objects.filter(user=self.good_user).count(), 0
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py
index c5845ac8bc..8af62025ff 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/tests.py
@@ -153,15 +153,13 @@ class DashboardTest(TestCase):
         )
         self.client = Client()
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
     def check_verification_status_on(self, mode, value):
         """
         Check that the css class and the status message are in the dashboard html.
         """
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.user, self.course.location.course_key, mode=mode)
-        try:
-            response = self.client.get(reverse('dashboard'))
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest("Skip this test if url cannot be found (ie running from CMS tests)")
+        response = self.client.get(reverse('dashboard'))
         self.assertContains(response, "class=\"course {0}\"".format(mode))
         self.assertContains(response, value)
 
@@ -175,15 +173,13 @@ class DashboardTest(TestCase):
         self.check_verification_status_on('honor', 'You\'re enrolled as an honor code student')
         self.check_verification_status_on('audit', 'You\'re auditing this course')
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
     def check_verification_status_off(self, mode, value):
         """
         Check that the css class and the status message are not in the dashboard html.
         """
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.user, self.course.location.course_key, mode=mode)
-        try:
-            response = self.client.get(reverse('dashboard'))
-        except NoReverseMatch:
-            raise SkipTest("Skip this test if url cannot be found (ie running from CMS tests)")
+        response = self.client.get(reverse('dashboard'))
         self.assertNotContains(response, "class=\"course {0}\"".format(mode))
         self.assertNotContains(response, value)
 
@@ -232,7 +228,6 @@ class DashboardTest(TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(enrollment.refundable())
 
 
-
 class EnrollInCourseTest(TestCase):
     """Tests enrolling and unenrolling in courses."""
 
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/track/tests.py b/common/djangoapps/track/tests/test_logs.py
similarity index 78%
rename from common/djangoapps/track/tests.py
rename to common/djangoapps/track/tests/test_logs.py
index efc68a7267..104a73d215 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/track/tests.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/track/tests/test_logs.py
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
-"""Tests for student tracking"""
+"""Tests that tracking data are successfully logged"""
 import mock
+import unittest
 
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, NoReverseMatch
+from django.conf import settings
 from track.models import TrackingLog
 from track.views import user_track
-from nose.plugins.skip import SkipTest
 
 
+@unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'Test only valid in lms')
 class TrackingTest(TestCase):
     """
     Tests that tracking logs correctly handle events
@@ -24,10 +26,7 @@ class TrackingTest(TestCase):
         ]
         with mock.patch.dict('django.conf.settings.FEATURES', {'ENABLE_SQL_TRACKING_LOGS': True}):
             for request_params in requests:
-                try:  # because /event maps to two different views in lms and cms, we're only going to test lms here
-                    response = self.client.post(reverse(user_track), request_params)
-                except NoReverseMatch:
-                    raise SkipTest()
+                response = self.client.post(reverse(user_track), request_params)
                 self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
                 self.assertEqual(response.content, 'success')
                 tracking_logs = TrackingLog.objects.order_by('-dtcreated')
@@ -47,10 +46,7 @@ class TrackingTest(TestCase):
         ]
         with mock.patch.dict('django.conf.settings.FEATURES', {'ENABLE_SQL_TRACKING_LOGS': True}):
             for request_params in requests:
-                try:  # because /event maps to two different views in lms and cms, we're only going to test lms here
-                    response = self.client.get(reverse(user_track), request_params)
-                except NoReverseMatch:
-                    raise SkipTest()
+                response = self.client.get(reverse(user_track), request_params)
                 self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
                 self.assertEqual(response.content, 'success')
                 tracking_logs = TrackingLog.objects.order_by('-dtcreated')