diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/serializers.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/serializers.py
index 8ff3ecef53..157ae681d4 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/serializers.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/serializers.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from common.lib.xmodule.xmodule.course_module import get_available_providers
 
 
 class ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
-    """ Serializer for proctored exam settings. """
+    """ Serializer for edX Staff proctored exam settings. """
     enable_proctored_exams = serializers.BooleanField()
     allow_proctoring_opt_out = serializers.BooleanField()
     proctoring_provider = serializers.CharField()
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ class ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
     create_zendesk_tickets = serializers.BooleanField()
 
 
+class LimitedProctoredExamSettingsSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+    """Serializer for non edX Staff for proctored exam settings"""
+    enable_proctored_exams = serializers.BooleanField()
+    proctoring_provider = serializers.CharField()
+    proctoring_escalation_email = serializers.CharField(allow_blank=True)
+
+
 class ProctoredExamConfigurationSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
     """ Serializer for various metadata associated with proctored exam settings. """
     proctored_exam_settings = ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer()
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/tests/test_views.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/tests/test_views.py
index bd850450cd..eb2fdf19c6 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/tests/test_views.py
@@ -274,3 +274,21 @@ class ProctoringExamSettingsPostTests(ProctoringExamSettingsTestMixin, ModuleSto
         updated = modulestore().get_item(self.course.location)
         assert updated.enable_proctored_exams is False
         assert updated.proctoring_provider == 'null'
+
+    def test_403_if_instructor_request_includes_opting_out_or_zendesk(self):
+        self.client.login(username=self.course_instructor, password=self.password)
+        data = self.get_request_data()
+        response = self.make_request(data=data)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
+
+    def test_200_for_instructor_request(self):
+        self.client.login(username=self.course_instructor, password=self.password)
+        data = {
+            'proctored_exam_settings': {
+                'enable_proctored_exams': True,
+                'proctoring_provider': 'proctortrack',
+                'proctoring_escalation_email': 'foo@bar.com',
+            }
+        }
+        response = self.make_request(data=data)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/views.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/views.py
index 292142eefa..b069097028 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/rest_api/v1/views.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 from contentstore.rest_api.v1.serializers import (
     ProctoredExamConfigurationSerializer,
     ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer,
+    LimitedProctoredExamSettingsSerializer,
 )
 
 
@@ -108,8 +109,12 @@ class ProctoredExamSettingsView(APIView):
 
     def post(self, request, course_id):
         """ POST handler """
-        exam_config = ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer(data=request.data.get('proctored_exam_settings', {}))
-        exam_config.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
+        serializer = ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer if request.user.is_staff else LimitedProctoredExamSettingsSerializer
+        exam_config = serializer(data=request.data.get('proctored_exam_settings', {}))
+        valid_request = exam_config.is_valid()
+        if not request.user.is_staff and valid_request and ProctoredExamSettingsSerializer(data=request.data.get('proctored_exam_settings', {})).is_valid():
+            return Response(status=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+
         with modulestore().bulk_operations(CourseKey.from_string(course_id)):
             course_module = self._get_and_validate_course_access(request.user, course_id)
             course_metadata = CourseMetadata().fetch_all(course_module)