diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/xblock_config/apps.py b/cms/djangoapps/xblock_config/apps.py
index d378ee011d..2961140f91 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/xblock_config/apps.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/xblock_config/apps.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ from django.apps import AppConfig
 
 import cms.lib.xblock.runtime
 import xmodule.x_module
-from openedx.core.lib.xblock_utils import xblock_local_resource_url
 
 
 class XBlockConfig(AppConfig):
@@ -18,6 +17,8 @@ class XBlockConfig(AppConfig):
     verbose_name = u'XBlock Configuration'
 
     def ready(self):
+        from openedx.core.lib.xblock_utils import xblock_local_resource_url
+
         # In order to allow descriptors to use a handler url, we need to
         # monkey-patch the x_module library.
         # TODO: Remove this code when Runtimes are no longer created by modulestores
diff --git a/cms/urls.py b/cms/urls.py
index 02774e9128..9683b9e67e 100644
--- a/cms/urls.py
+++ b/cms/urls.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from django.contrib.admin import autodiscover as django_autodiscover
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 import contentstore.views
-import django_cas.views
 import openedx.core.djangoapps.common_views.xblock
 import openedx.core.djangoapps.debug.views
 import openedx.core.djangoapps.external_auth.views
@@ -180,6 +179,8 @@ if settings.FEATURES.get('ENABLE_SERVICE_STATUS'):
     urlpatterns.append(url(r'^status/', include('openedx.core.djangoapps.service_status.urls')))
 
 if settings.FEATURES.get('AUTH_USE_CAS'):
+    import django_cas.views
+
     urlpatterns += [
         url(r'^cas-auth/login/$', openedx.core.djangoapps.external_auth.views.cas_login, name="cas-login"),
         url(r'^cas-auth/logout/$', django_cas.views.logout, {'next_page': '/'}, name="cas-logout"),
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/create_fake_cert.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/create_fake_cert.py
index b4c9514fef..c501a8e777 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/create_fake_cert.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/create_fake_cert.py
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ Example usage:
 
 """
 import logging
-from optparse import make_option
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
+from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from six import text_type
 
 from certificates.models import CertificateStatuses, GeneratedCertificate
 
@@ -24,33 +24,41 @@ LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class Command(BaseCommand):
     """Create a fake certificate for a user in a course. """
 
-    USAGE = u'Usage: create_fake_cert <USERNAME> <COURSE_KEY> --mode <MODE> --status <STATUS> --grade <GRADE>'
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument(
+            'username',
+            metavar='USERNAME',
+            help='Username of the user to create the fake cert for'
+        )
+        parser.add_argument(
+            'course_key',
+            metavar='COURSE_KEY',
+            help='Course key of the course to grant the cert for'
+        )
 
-    option_list = BaseCommand.option_list + (
-        make_option(
+        parser.add_argument(
             '-m', '--mode',
             metavar='CERT_MODE',
             dest='cert_mode',
             default='honor',
             help='The course mode of the certificate (e.g. "honor", "verified", or "professional")'
-        ),
+        )
 
-        make_option(
+        parser.add_argument(
             '-s', '--status',
             metavar='CERT_STATUS',
             dest='status',
             default=CertificateStatuses.downloadable,
             help='The status of the certificate'
-        ),
+        )
 
-        make_option(
+        parser.add_argument(
             '-g', '--grade',
             metavar='CERT_GRADE',
             dest='grade',
             default='',
-            help='The grade for the course, as a decimal (e.g. "0.89" for 89%)'
-        ),
-    )
+            help='The grade for the course, as a decimal (e.g. "0.89" for 89 percent)'
+        )
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
         """Create a fake certificate for a user.
@@ -68,11 +76,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             CommandError
 
         """
-        if len(args) < 2:
-            raise CommandError(self.USAGE)
-
-        user = User.objects.get(username=args[0])
-        course_key = CourseKey.from_string(args[1])
+        user = User.objects.get(username=options['username'])
+        course_key = CourseKey.from_string(options['course_key'])
         cert_mode = options.get('cert_mode', 'honor')
         status = options.get('status', CertificateStatuses.downloadable)
         grade = options.get('grade', '')
@@ -97,7 +102,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 u"Created certificate for user %s in course %s "
                 u"with mode %s, status %s, "
                 u"and grade %s",
-                user.id, unicode(course_key),
+                user.id, text_type(course_key),
                 cert_mode, status, grade
             )
 
@@ -106,6 +111,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 u"Updated certificate for user %s in course %s "
                 u"with mode %s, status %s, "
                 u"and grade %s",
-                user.id, unicode(course_key),
+                user.id, text_type(course_key),
                 cert_mode, status, grade
             )
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/regenerate_user.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/regenerate_user.py
index 4d668f1b60..15e500ac59 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/regenerate_user.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/regenerate_user.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 """Django management command to force certificate regeneration for one user"""
-
 import copy
 import logging
-from optparse import make_option
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
+from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from six import text_type
 
 from badges.events.course_complete import get_completion_badge
 from badges.utils import badges_enabled
@@ -24,39 +23,36 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
     help = """Put a request on the queue to recreate the certificate for a particular user in a particular course."""
 
-    option_list = BaseCommand.option_list + (
-        make_option('-n', '--noop',
-                    action='store_true',
-                    dest='noop',
-                    default=False,
-                    help="Don't grade or add certificate requests to the queue"),
-        make_option('--insecure',
-                    action='store_true',
-                    dest='insecure',
-                    default=False,
-                    help="Don't use https for the callback url to the LMS, useful in http test environments"),
-        make_option('-c', '--course',
-                    metavar='COURSE_ID',
-                    dest='course',
-                    default=False,
-                    help='The course id (e.g., mit/6-002x/circuits-and-electronics) for which the student named in'
-                         '<username> should be graded'),
-        make_option('-u', '--user',
-                    metavar='USERNAME',
-                    dest='username',
-                    default=False,
-                    help='The username or email address for whom grading and certification should be requested'),
-        make_option('-G', '--grade',
-                    metavar='GRADE',
-                    dest='grade_value',
-                    default=None,
-                    help='The grade string, such as "Distinction", which should be passed to the certificate agent'),
-        make_option('-T', '--template',
-                    metavar='TEMPLATE',
-                    dest='template_file',
-                    default=None,
-                    help='The template file used to render this certificate, like "QMSE01-distinction.pdf"'),
-    )
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument('-n', '--noop',
+                            action='store_true',
+                            dest='noop',
+                            help="Don't grade or add certificate requests to the queue")
+        parser.add_argument('--insecure',
+                            action='store_true',
+                            dest='insecure',
+                            help="Don't use https for the callback url to the LMS, useful in http test environments")
+        parser.add_argument('-c', '--course',
+                            metavar='COURSE_ID',
+                            dest='course',
+                            required=True,
+                            help='The course id (e.g., mit/6-002x/circuits-and-electronics) for which the student '
+                                 'named in <username> should be graded')
+        parser.add_argument('-u', '--user',
+                            metavar='USERNAME',
+                            dest='username',
+                            required=True,
+                            help='The username or email address for whom grading and certification should be requested')
+        parser.add_argument('-G', '--grade',
+                            metavar='GRADE',
+                            dest='grade_value',
+                            default=None,
+                            help='The grade string, such as "Distinction", which is passed to the certificate agent')
+        parser.add_argument('-T', '--template',
+                            metavar='TEMPLATE',
+                            dest='template_file',
+                            default=None,
+                            help='The template file used to render this certificate, like "QMSE01-distinction.pdf"')
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
 
@@ -69,21 +65,14 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 u"Starting to create tasks to regenerate certificates "
                 u"with arguments %s and options %s"
             ),
-            unicode(args),
-            unicode(cleaned_options)
+            text_type(args),
+            text_type(cleaned_options)
         )
 
-        if options['course']:
-            # try to parse out the course from the serialized form
-            course_id = CourseKey.from_string(options['course'])
-        else:
-            raise CommandError("You must specify a course")
-
+        # try to parse out the course from the serialized form
+        course_id = CourseKey.from_string(options['course'])
         user = options['username']
-        if not (course_id and user):
-            raise CommandError('both course id and student username are required')
 
-        student = None
         if '@' in user:
             student = User.objects.get(email=user, courseenrollment__course_id=course_id)
         else:
@@ -124,7 +113,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                     u"The new certificate status is '%s'."
                 ),
                 student.id,
-                unicode(course_id),
+                text_type(course_id),
                 ret
             )
 
@@ -136,7 +125,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                     u"because the noop flag is set."
                 ),
                 student.id,
-                unicode(course_id)
+                text_type(course_id)
             )
 
         LOGGER.info(
@@ -145,5 +134,5 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 u"user %s and course '%s'."
             ),
             student.id,
-            unicode(course_id)
+            text_type(course_id)
         )
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/resubmit_error_certificates.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/resubmit_error_certificates.py
index efdbd146ea..421a4b0959 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/resubmit_error_certificates.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/resubmit_error_certificates.py
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ Example usage:
 
 """
 import logging
-from optparse import make_option
 
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
 from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from six import text_type
 
 from certificates import api as certs_api
 from certificates.models import CertificateStatuses, GeneratedCertificate
@@ -33,16 +33,15 @@ LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class Command(BaseCommand):
     """Resubmit certificates with error status. """
 
-    option_list = BaseCommand.option_list + (
-        make_option(
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument(
             '-c', '--course',
             metavar='COURSE_KEY',
             dest='course_key_list',
             action='append',
             default=[],
             help='Only re-submit certificates for these courses.'
-        ),
-    )
+        )
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
         """Resubmit certificates with status 'error'.
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         """
         only_course_keys = []
-        for course_key_str in options.get('course_key_list', []):
+        for course_key_str in options['course_key_list']:
             try:
                 only_course_keys.append(CourseKey.from_string(course_key_str))
             except InvalidKeyError:
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 (
                     u'Starting to re-submit certificates with status "error" '
                     u'in these courses: %s'
-                ), ", ".join([unicode(key) for key in only_course_keys])
+                ), ", ".join([text_type(key) for key in only_course_keys])
             )
         else:
             LOGGER.info(u'Starting to re-submit certificates with status "error".')
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/ungenerated_certs.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/ungenerated_certs.py
index ac4ef411c4..64749f19c0 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/ungenerated_certs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/management/commands/ungenerated_certs.py
@@ -2,14 +2,15 @@
 Management command to find all students that need certificates for
 courses that have finished, and put their cert requests on the queue.
 """
+from __future__ import print_function
 import datetime
 import logging
-from optparse import make_option
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
+from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 from pytz import UTC
+from six import text_type
 
 from certificates.api import generate_user_certificates
 from certificates.models import CertificateStatuses, certificate_status_for_student
@@ -34,42 +35,43 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     queue to be generated.
     """
 
-    option_list = BaseCommand.option_list + (
-        make_option('-n', '--noop',
-                    action='store_true',
-                    dest='noop',
-                    default=False,
-                    help="Don't add certificate requests to the queue"),
-        make_option('--insecure',
-                    action='store_true',
-                    dest='insecure',
-                    default=False,
-                    help="Don't use https for the callback url to the LMS, useful in http test environments"),
-        make_option('-c', '--course',
-                    metavar='COURSE_ID',
-                    dest='course',
-                    default=False,
-                    help='Grade and generate certificates '
-                    'for a specific course'),
-        make_option('-f', '--force-gen',
-                    metavar='STATUS',
-                    dest='force',
-                    default=False,
-                    help='Will generate new certificates for only those users '
-                    'whose entry in the certificate table matches STATUS. '
-                    'STATUS can be generating, unavailable, deleted, error '
-                    'or notpassing.'),
-    )
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '-n', '--noop',
+            action='store_true',
+            dest='noop',
+            help="Don't add certificate requests to the queue"
+        )
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '--insecure',
+            action='store_true',
+            dest='insecure',
+            help="Don't use https for the callback url to the LMS, useful in http test environments"
+        )
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '-c', '--course',
+            metavar='COURSE_ID',
+            dest='course',
+            required=True,
+            help='Grade and generate certificates for a specific course'
+        )
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '-f', '--force-gen',
+            metavar='STATUS',
+            dest='force',
+            default=False,
+            help='Will generate new certificates for only those users whose entry in the certificate table matches '
+            'STATUS. STATUS can be generating, unavailable, deleted, error or notpassing.'
+        )
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
-
         LOGGER.info(
             (
                 u"Starting to create tasks for ungenerated certificates "
                 u"with arguments %s and options %s"
             ),
-            unicode(args),
-            unicode(options)
+            text_type(args),
+            text_type(options)
         )
 
         # Will only generate a certificate if the current
@@ -82,14 +84,10 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             valid_statuses = [CertificateStatuses.unavailable]
 
         # Print update after this many students
+        status_interval = 500
 
-        STATUS_INTERVAL = 500
-
-        if options['course']:
-            course = CourseKey.from_string(options['course'])
-            ended_courses = [course]
-        else:
-            raise CommandError("You must specify a course")
+        course = CourseKey.from_string(options['course'])
+        ended_courses = [course]
 
         for course_key in ended_courses:
             # prefetch all chapters/sequentials by saying depth=2
@@ -105,16 +103,15 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
             for student in enrolled_students:
                 count += 1
-                if count % STATUS_INTERVAL == 0:
+                if count % status_interval == 0:
                     # Print a status update with an approximation of
                     # how much time is left based on how long the last
                     # interval took
                     diff = datetime.datetime.now(UTC) - start
-                    timeleft = diff * (total - count) / STATUS_INTERVAL
+                    timeleft = diff * (total - count) / status_interval
                     hours, remainder = divmod(timeleft.seconds, 3600)
                     minutes, _seconds = divmod(remainder, 60)
-                    print "{0}/{1} completed ~{2:02}:{3:02}m remaining".format(
-                        count, total, hours, minutes)
+                    print("{0}/{1} completed ~{2:02}:{3:02}m remaining".format(count, total, hours, minutes))
                     start = datetime.datetime.now(UTC)
 
                 cert_status = certificate_status_for_student(student, course_key)['status']
@@ -125,7 +122,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                     ),
                     student.id,
                     cert_status,
-                    unicode(course_key)
+                    text_type(course_key)
                 )
 
                 if cert_status in valid_statuses:
@@ -147,7 +144,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                                     u"The new certificate status is '%s'."
                                 ),
                                 student.id,
-                                unicode(course_key),
+                                text_type(course_key),
                                 ret
                             )
 
@@ -159,7 +156,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                                 u"because the noop flag is set."
                             ),
                             student.id,
-                            unicode(course_key)
+                            text_type(course_key)
                         )
 
                 else:
@@ -170,7 +167,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                         ),
                         student.id,
                         cert_status,
-                        unicode(valid_statuses)
+                        text_type(valid_statuses)
                     )
 
             LOGGER.info(
@@ -178,5 +175,5 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                     u"Completed ungenerated certificates command "
                     u"for course '%s'"
                 ),
-                unicode(course_key)
+                text_type(course_key)
             )
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_cert_management.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_cert_management.py
index c203d2038d..32434ceffd 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_cert_management.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_cert_management.py
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 """Tests for the resubmit_error_certificates management command. """
 import ddt
+from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from mock import patch
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from opaque_keys.edx.locator import CourseLocator
+from six import text_type
 
 from badges.events.course_complete import get_completion_badge
 from badges.models import BadgeAssertion
 from badges.tests.factories import BadgeAssertionFactory, CourseCompleteImageConfigurationFactory
-from certificates.management.commands import regenerate_user, resubmit_error_certificates, ungenerated_certs
 from certificates.models import CertificateStatuses, GeneratedCertificate
 from course_modes.models import CourseMode
 from lms.djangoapps.grades.tests.utils import mock_passing_grade
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ class CertificateManagementTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     Base test class for Certificate Management command tests.
     """
     # Override with the command module you wish to test.
-    command = resubmit_error_certificates
+    command = 'resubmit_error_certificates'
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(CertificateManagementTest, self).setUp()
@@ -53,11 +54,6 @@ class CertificateManagementTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
             status=status
         )
 
-    def _run_command(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Run the management command to generate a fake cert. """
-        command = self.command.Command()
-        return command.handle(*args, **kwargs)
-
     def _assert_cert_status(self, course_key, user, expected_status):
         """Check the status of a certificate. """
         cert = GeneratedCertificate.eligible_certificates.get(user=user, course_id=course_key)
@@ -77,7 +73,7 @@ class ResubmitErrorCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
 
         # Re-submit all certificates with status 'error'
         with check_mongo_calls(1):
-            self._run_command()
+            call_command(self.command)
 
         # Expect that the certificate was re-submitted
         self._assert_cert_status(self.courses[0].id, self.user, CertificateStatuses.notpassing)
@@ -89,9 +85,9 @@ class ResubmitErrorCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
             self._create_cert(self.courses[idx].id, self.user, CertificateStatuses.error)
 
         # Re-submit certificates for two of the courses
-        self._run_command(course_key_list=[
-            unicode(self.courses[0].id),
-            unicode(self.courses[1].id)
+        call_command(self.command, course_key_list=[
+            text_type(self.courses[0].id),
+            text_type(self.courses[1].id)
         ])
 
         # Expect that the first two courses have been re-submitted,
@@ -115,7 +111,7 @@ class ResubmitErrorCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
         self._create_cert(self.courses[1].id, self.user, other_status)
 
         # Re-submit certificates for all courses
-        self._run_command()
+        call_command(self.command)
 
         # Only the certificate with status "error" should have been re-submitted
         self._assert_cert_status(self.courses[0].id, self.user, CertificateStatuses.notpassing)
@@ -123,7 +119,7 @@ class ResubmitErrorCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
 
     def test_resubmit_error_certificate_none_found(self):
         self._create_cert(self.courses[0].id, self.user, CertificateStatuses.downloadable)
-        self._run_command()
+        call_command(self.command)
         self._assert_cert_status(self.courses[0].id, self.user, CertificateStatuses.downloadable)
 
     def test_course_caching(self):
@@ -135,17 +131,17 @@ class ResubmitErrorCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
         # Verify that we make only one Mongo query
         # because the course is cached.
         with check_mongo_calls(1):
-            self._run_command()
+            call_command(self.command)
 
     def test_invalid_course_key(self):
         invalid_key = u"invalid/"
         with self.assertRaisesRegexp(CommandError, invalid_key):
-            self._run_command(course_key_list=[invalid_key])
+            call_command(self.command, course_key_list=[invalid_key])
 
     def test_course_does_not_exist(self):
         phantom_course = CourseLocator(org='phantom', course='phantom', run='phantom')
         self._create_cert(phantom_course, self.user, 'error')
-        self._run_command()
+        call_command(self.command)
 
         # Expect that the certificate was NOT resubmitted
         # since the course doesn't actually exist.
@@ -158,7 +154,7 @@ class RegenerateCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
     """
     Tests for regenerating certificates.
     """
-    command = regenerate_user
+    command = 'regenerate_user'
 
     def setUp(self):
         """
@@ -185,10 +181,10 @@ class RegenerateCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
         self.assertTrue(BadgeAssertion.objects.filter(user=self.user, badge_class=badge_class))
         self.course.issue_badges = issue_badges
         self.store.update_item(self.course, None)
-        self._run_command(
-            username=self.user.email, course=unicode(key), noop=False, insecure=False, template_file=None,
-            grade_value=None
-        )
+
+        args = '-u {} -c {}'.format(self.user.email, text_type(key))
+        call_command(self.command, *args.split(' '))
+
         xqueue.return_value.regen_cert.assert_called_with(
             self.user,
             key,
@@ -211,10 +207,10 @@ class RegenerateCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
         """
         key = self.course.location.course_key
         self._create_cert(key, self.user, CertificateStatuses.downloadable)
-        self._run_command(
-            username=self.user.email, course=unicode(key), noop=False, insecure=True, template_file=None,
-            grade_value=None
-        )
+
+        args = '-u {} -c {} --insecure'.format(self.user.email, text_type(key))
+        call_command(self.command, *args.split(' '))
+
         certificate = GeneratedCertificate.eligible_certificates.get(
             user=self.user,
             course_id=key
@@ -228,7 +224,7 @@ class UngenerateCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
     """
     Tests for generating certificates.
     """
-    command = ungenerated_certs
+    command = 'ungenerated_certs'
 
     def setUp(self):
         """
@@ -248,10 +244,11 @@ class UngenerateCertificatesTest(CertificateManagementTest):
         mock_send_to_queue.return_value = (0, "Successfully queued")
         key = self.course.location.course_key
         self._create_cert(key, self.user, CertificateStatuses.unavailable)
+
         with mock_passing_grade():
-            self._run_command(
-                course=unicode(key), noop=False, insecure=True, force=False
-            )
+            args = '-c {} --insecure'.format(text_type(key))
+            call_command(self.command, *args.split(' '))
+
         self.assertTrue(mock_send_to_queue.called)
         certificate = GeneratedCertificate.eligible_certificates.get(
             user=self.user,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_create_fake_cert.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_create_fake_cert.py
index 71b5da394b..502789ac81 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_create_fake_cert.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_create_fake_cert.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 """Tests for the create_fake_certs management command. """
+
+from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError
 from django.test import TestCase
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from opaque_keys.edx.locator import CourseLocator
+from six import text_type
 
-from certificates.management.commands import create_fake_cert
 from certificates.models import GeneratedCertificate
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
 
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ class CreateFakeCertTest(TestCase):
         # No existing cert, so create it
         self._run_command(
             self.USERNAME,
-            unicode(self.COURSE_KEY),
+            text_type(self.COURSE_KEY),
             cert_mode='verified',
             grade='0.89'
         )
@@ -38,17 +40,16 @@ class CreateFakeCertTest(TestCase):
         # Cert already exists; modify it
         self._run_command(
             self.USERNAME,
-            unicode(self.COURSE_KEY),
+            text_type(self.COURSE_KEY),
             cert_mode='honor'
         )
         cert = GeneratedCertificate.eligible_certificates.get(user=self.user, course_id=self.COURSE_KEY)
         self.assertEqual(cert.mode, 'honor')
 
     def test_too_few_args(self):
-        with self.assertRaisesRegexp(CommandError, 'Usage'):
+        with self.assertRaisesRegexp(CommandError, 'Error: too few arguments'):
             self._run_command(self.USERNAME)
 
     def _run_command(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Run the management command to generate a fake cert. """
-        command = create_fake_cert.Command()
-        return command.handle(*args, **kwargs)
+        return call_command('create_fake_cert', *args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v0/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v0/tests/test_views.py
index 558db9b500..35e9d18ba1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v0/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v0/tests/test_views.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import ddt
 import mock
 import pytz
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, reverse_lazy
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from edx_rest_api_client import exceptions
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ class BasketOrderViewTests(UserMixin, TestCase):
     """ Tests for the basket order view. """
     view_name = 'commerce_api:v0:baskets:retrieve_order'
     MOCK_ORDER = {'number': 1}
-    path = reverse(view_name, kwargs={'basket_id': 1})
+    path = reverse_lazy(view_name, kwargs={'basket_id': 1})
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(BasketOrderViewTests, self).setUp()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v1/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v1/tests/test_views.py
index f8a32ce962..027a890421 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v1/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/commerce/api/v1/tests/test_views.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import ddt
 import pytz
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Permission
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, reverse_lazy
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from edx_rest_api_client import exceptions
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class CourseApiViewTestMixin(object):
 
 class CourseListViewTests(CourseApiViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """ Tests for CourseListView. """
-    path = reverse('commerce_api:v1:courses:list')
+    path = reverse_lazy('commerce_api:v1:courses:list')
 
     def test_authentication_required(self):
         """ Verify only authenticated users can access the view. """
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ class OrderViewTests(UserMixin, TestCase):
     view_name = 'commerce_api:v1:orders:detail'
     ORDER_NUMBER = 'EDX-100001'
     MOCK_ORDER = {'number': ORDER_NUMBER}
-    path = reverse(view_name, kwargs={'number': ORDER_NUMBER})
+    path = reverse_lazy(view_name, kwargs={'number': ORDER_NUMBER})
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(OrderViewTests, self).setUp()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py
index 4281456f65..71e1c8f779 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_i18n.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import re
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, reverse_lazy
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.client import Client
 from django.utils import translation
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ class BaseI18nTestCase(TestCase):
     Base utilities for i18n test classes to derive from
     """
     preview_language_url = '/update_lang/'
-    url = reverse('dashboard')
     site_lang = settings.LANGUAGE_CODE
     pwd = 'test_password'
+    url = reverse_lazy('dashboard')
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(BaseI18nTestCase, self).setUp()
@@ -171,7 +171,9 @@ class I18nLangPrefTests(BaseI18nTestCase):
         self.user_login()
 
     def set_lang_preference(self, language):
-        """Sets the user's language preference, allowing the LangPref middleware to operate to set the preference cookie."""
+        """
+        Sets the user's language preference, allowing the LangPref middleware to operate to set the preference cookie.
+        """
         response = self.client.patch(
             reverse('preferences_api', args=[self.user.username]),
             json.dumps({LANGUAGE_KEY: language}),
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
index eca079f730..3cba9f6094 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 import ddt
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, reverse_lazy
 from django.http import Http404, HttpResponseBadRequest
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.client import Client, RequestFactory
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ class ViewsTestCase(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 class TestProgramMarketingView(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Unit tests for the program marketing page."""
     program_uuid = str(uuid4())
-    url = reverse('program_marketing_view', kwargs={'program_uuid': program_uuid})
+    url = reverse_lazy('program_marketing_view', kwargs={'program_uuid': program_uuid})
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py b/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py
index 43c9625cc7..4075dd88c2 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/tests/test_programs.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 import mock
 from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse, reverse_lazy
 from django.test import override_settings
 
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.catalog.tests.factories import CourseFactory, CourseRunFactory, ProgramFactory
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class TestProgramListing(ProgramsApiConfigMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Unit tests for the program listing page."""
     maxDiff = None
     password = 'test'
-    url = reverse('program_listing_view')
+    url = reverse_lazy('program_listing_view')
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class TestProgramDetails(ProgramsApiConfigMixin, CatalogIntegrationMixin, Shared
     """Unit tests for the program details page."""
     program_uuid = str(uuid4())
     password = 'test'
-    url = reverse('program_details_view', kwargs={'program_uuid': program_uuid})
+    url = reverse_lazy('program_details_view', kwargs={'program_uuid': program_uuid})
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/apps.py b/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/apps.py
index 2925e86bfc..5d0a392bcb 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/apps.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/apps.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 from django.apps import AppConfig
 
 import xmodule.x_module
-from .runtime import handler_url, local_resource_url
 
 
 class LMSXBlockConfig(AppConfig):
@@ -17,6 +16,8 @@ class LMSXBlockConfig(AppConfig):
     verbose_name = u'LMS XBlock'
 
     def ready(self):
+        from .runtime import handler_url, local_resource_url
+
         # In order to allow modules to use a handler url, we need to
         # monkey-patch the x_module library.
         # TODO: Remove this code when Runtimes are no longer created by modulestores
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index 55c262eb77..ef364b76a0 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ from courseware.views import views as courseware_views
 from courseware.views.index import CoursewareIndex
 from courseware.views.views import CourseTabView, EnrollStaffView, StaticCourseTabView
 from debug import views as debug_views
-from django_cas import views as django_cas_views
 from django_comment_common.models import ForumsConfig
 from django_openid_auth import views as django_openid_auth_views
 from lms.djangoapps.discussion import views as discussion_views
@@ -40,6 +39,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.programs.models import ProgramsApiConfig
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.self_paced.models import SelfPacedConfiguration
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_helpers
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.verified_track_content import views as verified_track_content_views
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.common_views.xblock import xblock_resource
 from openedx.features.enterprise_support.api import enterprise_enabled
 from ratelimitbackend import admin
 from static_template_view import views as static_template_view_views
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ urlpatterns += [
     # xblock Resource URL
     url(
         r'xblock/resource/(?P<block_type>[^/]+)/(?P<uri>.*)$',
-        'openedx.core.djangoapps.common_views.xblock.xblock_resource',
+        xblock_resource,
         name='xblock_resource_url',
     ),
 
@@ -825,6 +825,8 @@ if settings.FEATURES.get('AUTH_USE_SHIB'):
     ]
 
 if settings.FEATURES.get('AUTH_USE_CAS'):
+    from django_cas import views as django_cas_views
+
     urlpatterns += [
         url(r'^cas-auth/login/$', external_auth_views.cas_login, name='cas-login'),
         url(r'^cas-auth/logout/$', django_cas_views.logout, {'next_page': '/'}, name='cas-logout'),
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/coursegraph/tasks.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/coursegraph/tasks.py
index 137b75646a..d010eee1a9 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/coursegraph/tasks.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/coursegraph/tasks.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 from py2neo import Graph, Node, Relationship, authenticate, NodeSelector
 from py2neo.compat import integer, string, unicode as neo4j_unicode
 from request_cache.middleware import RequestCache
-from xmodule.modulestore.store_utilities import DETACHED_XBLOCK_TYPES
 
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -37,6 +36,8 @@ def serialize_item(item):
         block_type: the name of the XBlock's type (i.e. 'course'
         or 'problem')
     """
+    from xmodule.modulestore.store_utilities import DETACHED_XBLOCK_TYPES
+
     # convert all fields to a dict and filter out parent and children field
     fields = dict(
         (field, field_value.read_from(item))
diff --git a/openedx/features/learner_profile/urls.py b/openedx/features/learner_profile/urls.py
index 775d6ded1f..31bc859b87 100644
--- a/openedx/features/learner_profile/urls.py
+++ b/openedx/features/learner_profile/urls.py
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.conf.urls import url
 
 from views.learner_achievements import LearnerAchievementsFragmentView
+from openedx.features.learner_profile.views.learner_profile import learner_profile
 
 urlpatterns = [
     url(
         r'^{username_pattern}$'.format(
             username_pattern=settings.USERNAME_PATTERN,
         ),
-        'openedx.features.learner_profile.views.learner_profile.learner_profile',
+        learner_profile,
         name='learner_profile',
     ),
     url(
diff --git a/requirements/edx/base.txt b/requirements/edx/base.txt
index 70443048cd..2ff772bca2 100644
--- a/requirements/edx/base.txt
+++ b/requirements/edx/base.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ bleach==1.4
 html5lib==0.999
 boto==2.39.0
 celery==3.1.18
-cryptography==1.5.3
+cryptography==1.9
 cssselect==0.9.1
 dealer==2.0.4
 defusedxml==0.4.1