diff --git a/.coveragerc b/.coveragerc
index a974b527f2e9..6f8d8121fbfc 100644
--- a/.coveragerc
+++ b/.coveragerc
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ omit =
     cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/dev.py
     cms/djangoapps/*/migrations/*
     cms/djangoapps/*/features/*
+    cms/lib/*/migrations/*
     lms/debug/*
     lms/envs/*
     lms/djangoapps/*/migrations/*
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ omit =
     common/djangoapps/*/migrations/*
     openedx/core/djangoapps/*/migrations/*
     openedx/core/djangoapps/debug/*
+    openedx/features/*/migrations/*
 
 concurrency=multiprocessing
 
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 13e6d07f4f43..c3e36ba7963f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ conf/locale/messages.mo
 .testids/
 .noseids
 nosetests.xml
+.cache/
 .coverage
 .coverage.*
 coverage.xml
diff --git a/cms/conftest.py b/cms/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3b07f67be0f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""
+Studio unit test configuration and fixtures.
+
+This module needs to exist because the pytest.ini in the cms package stops
+pytest from looking for the conftest.py module in the parent directory when
+only running cms tests.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
+
+import importlib
+import os
+import contracts
+import pytest
+
+
+def pytest_configure(config):
+    """
+    Do core setup operations from manage.py before collecting tests.
+    """
+    if config.getoption('help'):
+        return
+    enable_contracts = os.environ.get('ENABLE_CONTRACTS', False)
+    if not enable_contracts:
+        contracts.disable_all()
+    settings_module = os.environ.get('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE')
+    startup_module = 'cms.startup' if settings_module.startswith('cms') else 'lms.startup'
+    startup = importlib.import_module(startup_module)
+    startup.run()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope='function')
+def _django_clear_site_cache():
+    """
+    pytest-django uses this fixture to automatically clear the Site object
+    cache by replacing it with a new dictionary.  edx-django-sites-extensions
+    grabs the cache dictionary at startup, and uses that one for all lookups
+    from then on.  Our CacheIsolationMixin class tries to clear the cache by
+    grabbing the current dictionary from the site models module and clearing
+    it.  Long story short: if you use this all together, neither cache
+    clearing mechanism actually works.  So override this fixture to not mess
+    with what has been working for us so far.
+    """
+    pass
diff --git a/cms/pytest.ini b/cms/pytest.ini
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c12268a41fb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/pytest.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[pytest]
+DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE = cms.envs.test
+addopts = --nomigrations --reuse-db --durations=20 -p no:randomly
+norecursedirs = envs
+python_classes =
+python_files = tests.py test_*.py *_tests.py
diff --git a/common/lib/conftest.py b/common/lib/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0295dabcc80c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+
+
+def pytest_configure():
+    """
+    Use Django's default settings for tests in common/lib.
+    """
+    settings.configure()
diff --git a/common/lib/pytest.ini b/common/lib/pytest.ini
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bcdab5935157
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/pytest.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[pytest]
+addopts = --nomigrations --reuse-db --durations=20
+norecursedirs = .cache
+python_classes =
+python_files = tests.py test_*.py tests_*.py *_tests.py __init__.py
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/test_split_modulestore.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/test_split_modulestore.py
index 9b036f23a407..42835c422233 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/test_split_modulestore.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/test_split_modulestore.py
@@ -13,12 +13,6 @@
 import ddt
 from contracts import contract
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
-# For the cache tests to work, we need to be using the Django default
-# settings (not our usual cms or lms test settings) and they need to
-# be configured before importing from django.core.cache
-from django.conf import settings
-if not settings.configured:
-    settings.configure()
 from django.core.cache import caches, InvalidCacheBackendError
 
 from openedx.core.lib import tempdir
diff --git a/common/test/pytest.ini b/common/test/pytest.ini
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d8172d2726fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/test/pytest.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[pytest]
+addopts = -p no:randomly --durations=20
+norecursedirs = .cache
diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..02b08cb1419b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+"""
+Default unit test configuration and fixtures.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
+
+# Import hooks and fixture overrides from the cms package to
+# avoid duplicating the implementation
+
+from cms.conftest import _django_clear_site_cache, pytest_configure  # pylint: disable=unused-import
diff --git a/docs/testing.rst b/docs/testing.rst
index a97c42d96018..c0c978c18a9f 100644
--- a/docs/testing.rst
+++ b/docs/testing.rst
@@ -130,14 +130,15 @@ however, run any acceptance tests.
 
 Note -
 `paver` is a scripting tool. To get information about various options, you can run the this command.
+
 ::
-	paver -h
+
+    paver -h
+
 Running Python Unit tests
 -------------------------
 
-We use `nose <https://nose.readthedocs.org/en/latest/>`__ through the
-`django-nose plugin <https://pypi.python.org/pypi/django-nose>`__ to run
-the test suite.
+We use `pytest <https://pytest.org/>`__ to run the test suite.
 
 For example, this command runs all the python test scripts.
 
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ To run a single django test class use this command.
 
 ::
 
-    paver test_system -t lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py:ActivateLoginTest
+    paver test_system -t lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py::ActivateLoginTest
 
 When developing tests, it is often helpful to be able to really just run
 one single test without the overhead of PIP installs, UX builds, etc. In
@@ -204,23 +205,23 @@ the time of this writing, the command is the following.
 
 ::
 
-    python ./manage.py lms test --verbosity=1 lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py   --traceback --settings=test
+    pytest lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
 
 
 To run a single test format the command like this.
 
 ::
 
-    paver test_system -t lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py:ActivateLoginTest.test_activate_login
+    paver test_system -t lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py::ActivateLoginTest::test_activate_login
 
-The ``lms`` suite of tests runs with randomized order, by default.
-You can override these by using ``--no-randomize`` to disable randomization.
+You can use ``--randomize`` to randomize the test case sequence.  In the
+short term, this is likely to reveal bugs in our test setup and teardown;
+please fix (or at least file tickets for) any such issues you encounter.
 
 You can also enable test concurrency with the ``--processes=N`` flag (where ``N``
 is the number of processes to run tests with, and ``-1`` means one process per
 available core). Note, however, that when running concurrently, breakpoints may
-not work correctly, and you will not be able to run single test methods (only
-single test classes).
+not work correctly.
 
 For example:
 
@@ -239,44 +240,44 @@ To re-run all failing django tests from lms or cms, use the
     paver test_system -s lms --failed
     paver test_system -s cms --failed
 
-There is also a ``--fail_fast``, ``-x`` option that will stop nosetests
+There is also a ``--exitfirst``, ``-x`` option that will stop pytest
 after the first failure.
 
 common/lib tests are tested with the ``test_lib`` task, which also
-accepts the ``--failed`` and ``--fail_fast`` options.
+accepts the ``--failed`` and ``--exitfirst`` options.
 
 ::
 
     paver test_lib -l common/lib/calc
     paver test_lib -l common/lib/xmodule --failed
 
-For example, this command runs a single nose test file.
+For example, this command runs a single python unit test file.
 
 ::
 
-    nosetests common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_stringify.py
+    pytest common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_stringify.py
 
-This command runs a single nose test within a specified file.
+This command runs a single python unit test within a specified file.
 
 ::
 
-    nosetests common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_stringify.py:test_stringify
+    pytest common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_stringify.py::test_stringify
 
 
-This is an example of how to run a single test and get stdout, with proper env config.
+This is an example of how to run a single test and get stdout shown immediately, with proper env config.
 
 ::
 
-    python manage.py cms --settings test test contentstore.tests.test_import_nostatic -s
+    pytest cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_import.py -s
 
-These are examples of how to run a single test and get stdout and get coverage.
+These are examples of how to run a single test and get coverage.
 
 ::
 
-    python -m coverage run which ./manage.py cms --settings test test --traceback --logging-clear-handlers --liveserver=localhost:8000-9000 contentstore.tests.test_import_nostatic -s # cms example
-    python -m coverage run which ./manage.py lms --settings test test --traceback --logging-clear-handlers --liveserver=localhost:8000-9000  courseware.tests.test_module_render -s # lms example
+    pytest cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_import.py --cov # cms example
+    pytest lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py --cov # lms example
 
-Use this command to generate coverage report.
+Use this command to generate a coverage report.
 
 ::
 
@@ -297,31 +298,32 @@ you can run one of these commands.
 ::
 
     paver test_system -s cms -t common/djangoapps/terrain/stubs/tests/test_youtube_stub.py
-    python -m coverage run `which ./manage.py` cms --settings test test --traceback common/djangoapps/terrain/stubs/tests/test_youtube_stub.py
+    pytest common/djangoapps/terrain/stubs/tests/test_youtube_stub.py
 
 Very handy: if you pass the ``--pdb`` flag to a paver test function, or
 uncomment the ``pdb=1`` line in ``setup.cfg``, the test runner
 will drop you into pdb on error. This lets you go up and down the stack
 and see what the values of the variables are. Check out `the pdb
-documentation <http://docs.python.org/library/pdb.html>`__
+documentation <http://docs.python.org/library/pdb.html>`__  Note that this
+only works if you aren't collecting coverage statistics (pdb and coverage.py
+use the same mechanism to trace code execution).
 
 Use this command to put a temporary debugging breakpoint in a test.
 If you check this in, your tests will hang on jenkins.
 
 ::
 
-    from nose.tools import set_trace; set_trace()
-
+    import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
 
-Note: More on the ``--failed`` functionality
+Note: More on the ``--failed`` functionality:
 
 * In order to use this, you must run the tests first. If you haven't already
   run the tests, or if no tests failed in the previous run, then using the
   ``--failed`` switch will result in **all** of the tests being run. See more
-  about this in the `nose documentation
-  <http://nose.readthedocs.org/en/latest/plugins/testid.html#looping-over-failed-tests>`__.
+  about this in the `pytest documentation
+  <https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/cache.html>`__.
 
-* Note that ``paver test_python`` calls nosetests separately for cms and lms.
+* Note that ``paver test_python`` calls pytest separately for cms and lms.
   This means that if tests failed only in lms on the previous run, then calling
   ``paver test_python --failed`` will run **all of the tests for cms** in
   addition to the previously failing lms tests. If you want it to run only the
@@ -501,7 +503,7 @@ To run all the bok choy accessibility tests use this command.
 
     paver test_a11y
 
-To run specific tests, use the ``-t`` flag to specify a nose-style test spec
+To run specific tests, use the ``-t`` flag to specify a pytest-style test spec
 relative to the ``common/test/acceptance/tests`` directory. This is an example for it.
 
 ::
@@ -565,7 +567,7 @@ Note if setup has already been done, you can run::
 You must run BOTH `--testsonly` and `--fasttest`.
 
 3. When done, you can kill your servers in the first terminal/ssh session with
-Control-C. *Warning*: Only hit Control-C one time so the nose test framework can
+Control-C. *Warning*: Only hit Control-C one time so the pytest framework can
 properly clean up.
 
 Running Lettuce Acceptance Tests
@@ -644,7 +646,7 @@ Running Tests on Paver Scripts
 
 To run tests on the scripts that power the various Paver commands, use the following command::
 
-  nosetests pavelib
+  pytest pavelib
 
 
 Testing internationalization with dummy translations
@@ -814,7 +816,7 @@ To view JavaScript code style quality run this command.
 
 ::
 
-	paver run_eslint --limit=50000
+    paver run_eslint --limit=50000
 
 
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py
index e583fe105f87..308af1faa356 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py
@@ -207,16 +207,17 @@ def test_with_downloadable_web_cert(self):
         )
 
     @ddt.data(
-        (False, datetime.now(pytz.UTC) + timedelta(days=2), False),
-        (False, datetime.now(pytz.UTC) - timedelta(days=2), True),
-        (True, datetime.now(pytz.UTC) + timedelta(days=2), True)
+        (False, timedelta(days=2), False),
+        (False, -timedelta(days=2), True),
+        (True, timedelta(days=2), True)
     )
     @ddt.unpack
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'CERTIFICATES_HTML_VIEW': True})
-    def test_cert_api_return(self, self_paced, cert_avail_date, cert_downloadable_status):
+    def test_cert_api_return(self, self_paced, cert_avail_delta, cert_downloadable_status):
         """
         Test 'downloadable status'
         """
+        cert_avail_date = datetime.now(pytz.UTC) + cert_avail_delta
         self.course.self_paced = self_paced
         self.course.certificate_available_date = cert_avail_date
         self.course.save()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_tasks.py b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_tasks.py
index 2538cf97e0f7..ce9d4c61e9d9 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_tasks.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_tasks.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-from unittest import TestCase
-
 import ddt
+from django.test import TestCase
 from mock import call, patch
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
-from nose.tools import assert_true
 
 from lms.djangoapps.certificates.tasks import generate_certificate
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/field_overrides.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/field_overrides.py
index a14ad18fce66..5b580cd95a40 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/field_overrides.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/field_overrides.py
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ def default(self, block, name):
 
 class OverrideModulestoreFieldData(OverrideFieldData):
     """Apply field data overrides at the modulestore level. No student context required."""
+    provider_classes = None
 
     @classmethod
     def wrap(cls, block, field_data):  # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py
index 6ed47a59cdf4..43f2b57f2086 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_module_render.py
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         Set up the course and user context
         """
         super(ModuleRenderTestCase, self).setUp()
+        OverrideFieldData.provider_classes = None
 
         self.mock_user = UserFactory()
         self.mock_user.id = 1
@@ -154,6 +155,10 @@ def setUp(self):
             )
         )
 
+    def tearDown(self):
+        OverrideFieldData.provider_classes = None
+        super(ModuleRenderTestCase, self).tearDown()
+
     def test_get_module(self):
         self.assertEqual(
             None,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_utils.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_utils.py
index 1f19c613c223..1d2896368491 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1707,28 +1707,24 @@ def setUp(self):
         # cohorted_user (who is in the cohort but not the verified enrollment track),
         # and plain_user (who is neither in the cohort nor the verified enrollment track)
         self.group_moderator = UserFactory(username='group_moderator', email='group_moderator@edx.org')
-        self.group_moderator.id = 1
         CourseEnrollmentFactory(
             course_id=self.course.id,
             user=self.group_moderator,
             mode=verified_coursemode
         )
         self.verified_user = UserFactory(username='verified', email='verified@edx.org')
-        self.verified_user.id = 2
         CourseEnrollmentFactory(
             course_id=self.course.id,
             user=self.verified_user,
             mode=verified_coursemode
         )
         self.cohorted_user = UserFactory(username='cohort', email='cohort@edx.org')
-        self.cohorted_user.id = 3
         CourseEnrollmentFactory(
             course_id=self.course.id,
             user=self.cohorted_user,
             mode=audit_coursemode
         )
         self.plain_user = UserFactory(username='plain', email='plain@edx.org')
-        self.plain_user.id = 4
         CourseEnrollmentFactory(
             course_id=self.course.id,
             user=self.plain_user,
@@ -1737,7 +1733,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         CohortFactory(
             course_id=self.course.id,
             name='Test Cohort',
-            users=[self.verified_user, self.cohorted_user]
+            users=[self.group_moderator, self.cohorted_user]
         )
 
         # Give group moderator permissions to group_moderator
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/grades/tests/test_signals.py b/lms/djangoapps/grades/tests/test_signals.py
index ffc68776901b..63e2a790d753 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/grades/tests/test_signals.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/grades/tests/test_signals.py
@@ -260,6 +260,11 @@ def test_disconnect_manager_bad_arg(self):
 
 @ddt.ddt
 class RecalculateUserGradeSignalsTest(TestCase):
+    SIGNALS = {
+        'COHORT_MEMBERSHIP_UPDATED': COHORT_MEMBERSHIP_UPDATED,
+        'ENROLLMENT_TRACK_UPDATED': ENROLLMENT_TRACK_UPDATED,
+    }
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(RecalculateUserGradeSignalsTest, self).setUp()
         self.user = UserFactory()
@@ -267,9 +272,10 @@ def setUp(self):
 
     @patch('lms.djangoapps.grades.signals.handlers.CourseGradeFactory.update')
     @patch('lms.djangoapps.grades.signals.handlers.CourseGradeFactory.read')
-    @ddt.data(*itertools.product((COHORT_MEMBERSHIP_UPDATED, ENROLLMENT_TRACK_UPDATED), (True, False), (True, False)))
+    @ddt.data(*itertools.product(('COHORT_MEMBERSHIP_UPDATED', 'ENROLLMENT_TRACK_UPDATED'),
+                                 (True, False), (True, False)))
     @ddt.unpack
-    def test_recalculate_on_signal(self, signal, write_only_if_engaged, has_grade, read_mock, update_mock):
+    def test_recalculate_on_signal(self, signal_name, write_only_if_engaged, has_grade, read_mock, update_mock):
         """
         Tests the grades handler for signals that trigger regrading.
         The handler should call CourseGradeFactory.update() with the
@@ -279,6 +285,7 @@ def test_recalculate_on_signal(self, signal, write_only_if_engaged, has_grade, r
         if not has_grade:
             read_mock.return_value = None
         with waffle().override(WRITE_ONLY_IF_ENGAGED, active=write_only_if_engaged):
+            signal = self.SIGNALS[signal_name]
             signal.send(sender=None, user=self.user, course_key=self.course_key)
 
         if not write_only_if_engaged and not has_grade:
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py
index c378be027b2c..03db4e1df201 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/certificates/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 import itertools
-from unittest import TestCase
 
 import ddt
 import pytz
 import waffle
+from django.test import TestCase
 
 from course_modes.models import CourseMode
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.certificates import api
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/credit/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/credit/tests/test_views.py
index 72cb2a58c313..c6165da6a432 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/credit/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/credit/tests/test_views.py
@@ -549,11 +549,15 @@ def test_post_with_invalid_signature(self):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
 
     @ddt.data(
-        to_timestamp(datetime.datetime.now(pytz.UTC) - datetime.timedelta(0, 60 * 15 + 1)),
+        -datetime.timedelta(0, 60 * 15 + 1),
         'invalid'
     )
-    def test_post_with_invalid_timestamp(self, timestamp):
+    def test_post_with_invalid_timestamp(self, timedelta):
         """ Verify HTTP 400 is returned for requests with an invalid timestamp. """
+        if timedelta == 'invalid':
+            timestamp = timedelta
+        else:
+            timestamp = to_timestamp(datetime.datetime.now(pytz.UTC) + timedelta)
         request_uuid = self._create_credit_request_and_get_uuid()
         response = self._credit_provider_callback(request_uuid, 'approved', timestamp=timestamp)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/management/commands/tests/test_send_recurring_nudge.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/management/commands/tests/test_send_recurring_nudge.py
index 7c43f4b7698b..54d5aa082097 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/management/commands/tests/test_send_recurring_nudge.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/management/commands/tests/test_send_recurring_nudge.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import datetime
 import itertools
+from copy import deepcopy
 from unittest import skipUnless
 
 import attr
@@ -201,10 +202,8 @@ def test_multiple_enrollments(self, test_hour, messages_sent, mock_schedule_send
 
     @ddt.data(*itertools.product((1, 10, 100), (3, 10)))
     @ddt.unpack
-    @override_settings()
     def test_templates(self, message_count, day):
 
-        settings.TEMPLATES[0]['OPTIONS']['string_if_invalid'] = "TEMPLATE WARNING - MISSING VARIABLE [%s]"
         user = UserFactory.create()
         schedules = [
             ScheduleFactory.create(
@@ -226,20 +225,23 @@ def test_templates(self, message_count, day):
 
         sent_messages = []
 
-        with patch.object(tasks, '_recurring_nudge_schedule_send') as mock_schedule_send:
-            mock_schedule_send.apply_async = lambda args, *_a, **_kw: sent_messages.append(args)
+        templates_override = deepcopy(settings.TEMPLATES)
+        templates_override[0]['OPTIONS']['string_if_invalid'] = "TEMPLATE WARNING - MISSING VARIABLE [%s]"
+        with self.settings(TEMPLATES=templates_override):
+            with patch.object(tasks, '_recurring_nudge_schedule_send') as mock_schedule_send:
+                mock_schedule_send.apply_async = lambda args, *_a, **_kw: sent_messages.append(args)
 
-            with self.assertNumQueries(2):
-                tasks.recurring_nudge_schedule_hour(
-                    self.site_config.site.id, day, test_time_str, [schedules[0].enrollment.course.org],
-                )
+                with self.assertNumQueries(2):
+                    tasks.recurring_nudge_schedule_hour(
+                        self.site_config.site.id, day, test_time_str, [schedules[0].enrollment.course.org],
+                    )
 
-        self.assertEqual(len(sent_messages), 1)
+            self.assertEqual(len(sent_messages), 1)
 
-        for args in sent_messages:
-            tasks._recurring_nudge_schedule_send(*args)
+            for args in sent_messages:
+                tasks._recurring_nudge_schedule_send(*args)
 
-        self.assertEqual(mock_channel.deliver.call_count, 1)
-        for (_name, (_msg, email), _kwargs) in mock_channel.deliver.mock_calls:
-            for template in attr.astuple(email):
-                self.assertNotIn("TEMPLATE WARNING", template)
+            self.assertEqual(mock_channel.deliver.call_count, 1)
+            for (_name, (_msg, email), _kwargs) in mock_channel.deliver.mock_calls:
+                for template in attr.astuple(email):
+                    self.assertNotIn("TEMPLATE WARNING", template)
diff --git a/pavelib/paver_tests/test_paver_bok_choy_cmds.py b/pavelib/paver_tests/test_paver_bok_choy_cmds.py
index c04534ad0a36..9a488cc97f86 100644
--- a/pavelib/paver_tests/test_paver_bok_choy_cmds.py
+++ b/pavelib/paver_tests/test_paver_bok_choy_cmds.py
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ def _expected_command(self, name, store=None, verify_xss=True):
             "-m",
             "pytest",
             "{}/common/test/acceptance/{}".format(REPO_DIR, name),
-            "--durations=20",
             "--junitxml={}/reports/bok_choy{}/xunit.xml".format(REPO_DIR, shard_str),
             "--verbose",
         ]
diff --git a/pavelib/tests.py b/pavelib/tests.py
index 772d4215f7cd..c0b06f0b5bfb 100644
--- a/pavelib/tests.py
+++ b/pavelib/tests.py
@@ -30,12 +30,16 @@
     ("test-id=", "t", "Test id"),
     ("fail-fast", "x", "Fail suite on first failed test"),
     ("fasttest", "a", "Run without collectstatic"),
+    make_option(
+        "--eval-attr", dest="eval_attr",
+        help="Only run tests matching given attribute expression."
+    ),
     make_option(
         '-c', '--cov-args', default='',
         help='adds as args to coverage for the test run'
     ),
     ('skip-clean', 'C', 'skip cleaning repository before running tests'),
-    ('processes=', 'p', 'number of processes to use running tests'),
+    make_option('-p', '--processes', dest='processes', default=0, help='number of processes to use running tests'),
     make_option('-r', '--randomize', action='store_true', help='run the tests in a random order'),
     make_option('--no-randomize', action='store_false', dest='randomize', help="don't run the tests in a random order"),
     make_option("--verbose", action="store_const", const=2, dest="verbosity"),
@@ -53,14 +57,6 @@
         dest='disable_migrations',
         help="Create tables by applying migrations."
     ),
-    ("fail_fast", None, "deprecated in favor of fail-fast"),
-    ("test_id=", None, "deprecated in favor of test-id"),
-    ('cov_args=', None, 'deprecated in favor of cov-args'),
-    make_option(
-        "-e", "--extra_args", default="",
-        help="deprecated, pass extra options directly in the paver commandline"
-    ),
-    ('skip_clean', None, 'deprecated in favor of skip-clean'),
 ], share_with=['pavelib.utils.test.utils.clean_reports_dir'])
 @PassthroughTask
 @timed
@@ -119,14 +115,6 @@ def test_system(options, passthrough_options):
     make_option("--verbose", action="store_const", const=2, dest="verbosity"),
     make_option("-q", "--quiet", action="store_const", const=0, dest="verbosity"),
     make_option("-v", "--verbosity", action="count", dest="verbosity", default=1),
-    ('cov_args=', None, 'deprecated in favor of cov-args'),
-    make_option(
-        '-e', '--extra_args', default='',
-        help='deprecated, pass extra options directly in the paver commandline'
-    ),
-    ("fail_fast", None, "deprecated in favor of fail-fast"),
-    ('skip_clean', None, 'deprecated in favor of skip-clean'),
-    ("test_id=", None, "deprecated in favor of test-id"),
 ], share_with=['pavelib.utils.test.utils.clean_reports_dir'])
 @PassthroughTask
 @timed
@@ -153,8 +141,9 @@ def test_lib(options, passthrough_options):
             suites.LibTestSuite(
                 d,
                 passthrough_options=passthrough_options,
+                append_coverage=(i != 0),
                 **options.test_lib
-            ) for d in Env.LIB_TEST_DIRS
+            ) for i, d in enumerate(Env.LIB_TEST_DIRS)
         ]
 
     test_suite = suites.PythonTestSuite(
@@ -186,12 +175,6 @@ def test_lib(options, passthrough_options):
         dest='disable_migrations',
         help="Create tables directly from apps' models. Can also be used by exporting DISABLE_MIGRATIONS=1."
     ),
-    ('cov_args=', None, 'deprecated in favor of cov-args'),
-    make_option(
-        '-e', '--extra_args', default='',
-        help='deprecated, pass extra options directly in the paver commandline'
-    ),
-    ("fail_fast", None, "deprecated in favor of fail-fast"),
 ])
 @PassthroughTask
 @timed
@@ -220,11 +203,6 @@ def test_python(options, passthrough_options):
     make_option("--verbose", action="store_const", const=2, dest="verbosity"),
     make_option("-q", "--quiet", action="store_const", const=0, dest="verbosity"),
     make_option("-v", "--verbosity", action="count", dest="verbosity", default=1),
-    ('cov_args=', None, 'deprecated in favor of cov-args'),
-    make_option(
-        '-e', '--extra_args', default='',
-        help='deprecated, pass extra options directly in the paver commandline'
-    ),
 ])
 @PassthroughTask
 @timed
@@ -249,7 +227,6 @@ def test(options, passthrough_options):
 @needs('pavelib.prereqs.install_coverage_prereqs')
 @cmdopts([
     ("compare-branch=", "b", "Branch to compare against, defaults to origin/master"),
-    ("compare_branch=", None, "deprecated in favor of compare-branch"),
 ])
 @timed
 def coverage():
@@ -287,7 +264,6 @@ def coverage():
 @needs('pavelib.prereqs.install_coverage_prereqs')
 @cmdopts([
     ("compare-branch=", "b", "Branch to compare against, defaults to origin/master"),
-    ("compare_branch=", None, "deprecated in favor of compare-branch"),
 ], share_with=['coverage'])
 @timed
 def diff_coverage(options):
diff --git a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/__init__.py b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/__init__.py
index 5617a1290097..7a84881d4659 100644
--- a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/__init__.py
+++ b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 TestSuite class and subclasses
 """
 from .suite import TestSuite
-from .nose_suite import NoseTestSuite, SystemTestSuite, LibTestSuite
+from .pytest_suite import PytestSuite, SystemTestSuite, LibTestSuite
 from .python_suite import PythonTestSuite
 from .js_suite import JsTestSuite
 from .acceptance_suite import AcceptanceTestSuite
diff --git a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/bokchoy_suite.py b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/bokchoy_suite.py
index 453e4dc19f93..e04bcc0d1cc7 100644
--- a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/bokchoy_suite.py
+++ b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/bokchoy_suite.py
@@ -343,7 +343,6 @@ def cmd(self):
             "-m",
             "pytest",
             test_spec,
-            "--durations=20",
         ] + self.verbosity_processes_command
         if self.extra_args:
             cmd.append(self.extra_args)
diff --git a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/nose_suite.py b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/pytest_suite.py
similarity index 50%
rename from pavelib/utils/test/suites/nose_suite.py
rename to pavelib/utils/test/suites/pytest_suite.py
index 13f34b3600eb..2872605b1d65 100644
--- a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/nose_suite.py
+++ b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/pytest_suite.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """
-Classes used for defining and running nose test suites
+Classes used for defining and running pytest test suites
 """
 import os
+from glob import glob
 from pavelib.utils.test import utils as test_utils
 from pavelib.utils.test.suites.suite import TestSuite
 from pavelib.utils.envs import Env
@@ -14,13 +15,13 @@
 __test__ = False  # do not collect
 
 
-class NoseTestSuite(TestSuite):
+class PytestSuite(TestSuite):
     """
     A subclass of TestSuite with extra methods that are specific
-    to nose tests
+    to pytest tests
     """
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(NoseTestSuite, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        super(PytestSuite, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.failed_only = kwargs.get('failed_only', False)
         self.fail_fast = kwargs.get('fail_fast', False)
         self.run_under_coverage = kwargs.get('with_coverage', True)
@@ -34,22 +35,17 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             shard_str = "shard_{}".format(os.environ.get("SHARD"))
             self.report_dir = self.report_dir / shard_str
 
-        self.test_id_dir = Env.TEST_DIR / self.root
-        self.test_ids = self.test_id_dir / 'noseids'
-        self.extra_args = kwargs.get('extra_args', '')
         self.cov_args = kwargs.get('cov_args', '')
-        self.use_ids = True
 
     def __enter__(self):
-        super(NoseTestSuite, self).__enter__()
+        super(PytestSuite, self).__enter__()
         self.report_dir.makedirs_p()
-        self.test_id_dir.makedirs_p()
 
     def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, traceback):
         """
         Cleans mongo afer the tests run.
         """
-        super(NoseTestSuite, self).__exit__(exc_type, exc_value, traceback)
+        super(PytestSuite, self).__exit__(exc_type, exc_value, traceback)
         test_utils.clean_mongo()
 
     def _under_coverage_cmd(self, cmd):
@@ -59,24 +55,19 @@ def _under_coverage_cmd(self, cmd):
         unaltered otherwise.
         """
         if self.run_under_coverage:
-            # We use "python -m coverage" so that the proper python
-            # will run the importable coverage rather than the
-            # coverage that OS path finds.
-
-            if not cmd[0].endswith('.py'):
-                cmd[0] = "`which {}`".format(cmd[0])
-
-            cmd = [
-                "python",
-                "-m",
-                "coverage",
-                "run",
-                self.cov_args,
-                "--rcfile={}".format(Env.PYTHON_COVERAGERC),
-            ] + cmd
+            cmd.append('--cov')
+            cmd.append('--cov-report=')
 
         return cmd
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def is_success(exit_code):
+        """
+        An exit code of zero means all tests passed, 5 means no tests were
+        found.
+        """
+        return exit_code in [0, 5]
+
     @property
     def test_options_flags(self):
         """
@@ -87,12 +78,12 @@ def test_options_flags(self):
 
         # Handle "--failed" as a special case: we want to re-run only
         # the tests that failed within our Django apps
-        # This sets the --failed flag for the nosetests command, so this
-        # functionality is the same as described in the nose documentation
+        # This sets the --last-failed flag for the pytest command, so this
+        # functionality is the same as described in the pytest documentation
         if self.failed_only:
-            opts.append("--failed")
+            opts.append("--last-failed")
 
-        # This makes it so we use nose's fail-fast feature in two cases.
+        # This makes it so we use pytest's fail-fast feature in two cases.
         # Case 1: --fail-fast is passed as an arg in the paver command
         # Case 2: The environment variable TESTS_FAIL_FAST is set as True
         env_fail_fast_set = (
@@ -100,20 +91,18 @@ def test_options_flags(self):
         )
 
         if self.fail_fast or env_fail_fast_set:
-            opts.append("--stop")
-
-        if self.use_ids:
-            opts.append("--with-id")
+            opts.append("--exitfirst")
 
         return opts
 
 
-class SystemTestSuite(NoseTestSuite):
+class SystemTestSuite(PytestSuite):
     """
-    TestSuite for lms and cms nosetests
+    TestSuite for lms and cms python unit tests
     """
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(SystemTestSuite, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.eval_attr = kwargs.get('eval_attr', None)
         self.test_id = kwargs.get('test_id', self._default_test_id)
         self.fasttest = kwargs.get('fasttest', False)
 
@@ -127,17 +116,6 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         self.processes = int(self.processes)
 
-        if self.randomize is None:
-            self.randomize = self.root == 'lms'
-
-        if self.processes != 0 and self.verbosity > 1:
-            print colorize(
-                'red',
-                "The TestId module and multiprocessing module can't be run "
-                "together in verbose mode. Disabling TestId for {} tests.".format(self.root)
-            )
-            self.use_ids = False
-
     def __enter__(self):
         super(SystemTestSuite, self).__enter__()
 
@@ -145,23 +123,29 @@ def __enter__(self):
     def cmd(self):
 
         cmd = [
-            './manage.py', self.root, 'test',
-            '--verbosity={}'.format(self.verbosity),
-            self.test_id,
-        ] + self.test_options_flags + [
-            '--settings', self.settings,
-            self.extra_args,
-            '--xunitmp-file={}'.format(self.report_dir / "nosetests.xml"),
-            '--with-database-isolation',
-        ]
-
-        if self.processes != 0:
-            cmd.append('--processes={}'.format(self.processes))
-
-        if self.randomize:
-            cmd.append('--with-randomly')
+            'pytest',
+            '--ds={}'.format('{}.envs.{}'.format(self.root, self.settings)),
+            '--junitxml={}'.format(self.report_dir / "nosetests.xml"),
+        ] + self.test_options_flags
+        if self.verbosity < 1:
+            cmd.append("--quiet")
+        elif self.verbosity > 1:
+            cmd.append("--verbose")
+
+        if self.processes == -1:
+            cmd.append('-n auto')
+            cmd.append('--dist=loadscope')
+        elif self.processes != 0:
+            cmd.append('-n {}'.format(self.processes))
+            cmd.append('--dist=loadscope')
+
+        if not self.randomize:
+            cmd.append('-p no:randomly')
+        if self.eval_attr:
+            cmd.append("-a '{}'".format(self.eval_attr))
 
         cmd.extend(self.passthrough_options)
+        cmd.append(self.test_id)
 
         return self._under_coverage_cmd(cmd)
 
@@ -174,47 +158,77 @@ def _default_test_id(self):
         using a default test id.
         """
         # We need to use $DIR/*, rather than just $DIR so that
-        # django-nose will import them early in the test process,
+        # pytest will import them early in the test process,
         # thereby making sure that we load any django models that are
         # only defined in test files.
-        default_test_id = (
-            "{system}/djangoapps/*"
-            " common/djangoapps/*"
-            " openedx/core/djangoapps/*"
-            " openedx/tests/*"
-            " openedx/core/lib/*"
-        )
-
+        default_test_globs = [
+            "{system}/djangoapps/*".format(system=self.root),
+            "common/djangoapps/*",
+            "openedx/core/djangoapps/*",
+            "openedx/tests/*",
+            "openedx/core/lib/*",
+        ]
         if self.root in ('lms', 'cms'):
-            default_test_id += " {system}/lib/*"
+            default_test_globs.append("{system}/lib/*".format(system=self.root))
 
         if self.root == 'lms':
-            default_test_id += " {system}/tests.py"
-            default_test_id += " openedx/core/djangolib/*"
-            default_test_id += " openedx/features"
-
-        return default_test_id.format(system=self.root)
-
-
-class LibTestSuite(NoseTestSuite):
+            default_test_globs.append("{system}/tests.py".format(system=self.root))
+            default_test_globs.append("openedx/core/djangolib/*")
+            default_test_globs.append("openedx/features")
+
+        def included(path):
+            """
+            Should this path be included in the pytest arguments?
+            """
+            if path.endswith('__pycache__'):
+                return False
+            return path.endswith('.py') or os.path.isdir(path)
+
+        default_test_paths = []
+        for path_glob in default_test_globs:
+            if '*' in path_glob:
+                default_test_paths += [path for path in glob(path_glob) if included(path)]
+            else:
+                default_test_paths += [path_glob]
+        return ' '.join(default_test_paths)
+
+
+class LibTestSuite(PytestSuite):
     """
-    TestSuite for edx-platform/common/lib nosetests
+    TestSuite for edx-platform/common/lib python unit tests
     """
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(LibTestSuite, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.append_coverage = kwargs.get('append_coverage', False)
         self.test_id = kwargs.get('test_id', self.root)
         self.xunit_report = self.report_dir / "nosetests.xml"
 
     @property
     def cmd(self):
         cmd = [
-            "nosetests",
-            "--id-file={}".format(self.test_ids),
-            self.test_id,
-        ] + self.test_options_flags + [
-            "--xunit-file={}".format(self.xunit_report),
-            self.extra_args,
-            "--verbosity={}".format(self.verbosity),
-        ] + self.passthrough_options
+            "pytest",
+            "-p",
+            "no:randomly",
+            "--junitxml=".format(self.xunit_report),
+        ] + self.passthrough_options + self.test_options_flags
+        if self.verbosity < 1:
+            cmd.append("--quiet")
+        elif self.verbosity > 1:
+            cmd.append("--verbose")
+        cmd.append(self.test_id)
 
         return self._under_coverage_cmd(cmd)
+
+    def _under_coverage_cmd(self, cmd):
+        """
+        If self.run_under_coverage is True, it returns the arg 'cmd'
+        altered to be run under coverage. It returns the command
+        unaltered otherwise.
+        """
+        if self.run_under_coverage:
+            cmd.append('--cov')
+            if self.append_coverage:
+                cmd.append('--cov-append')
+            cmd.append('--cov-report=')
+
+        return cmd
diff --git a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/python_suite.py b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/python_suite.py
index 3d918c5c974f..2fde58019e4d 100644
--- a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/python_suite.py
+++ b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/python_suite.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from pavelib.utils.test import utils as test_utils
 from pavelib.utils.test.suites.suite import TestSuite
-from pavelib.utils.test.suites.nose_suite import LibTestSuite, SystemTestSuite
+from pavelib.utils.test.suites.pytest_suite import LibTestSuite, SystemTestSuite
 from pavelib.utils.envs import Env
 
 __test__ = False  # do not collect
diff --git a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/suite.py b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/suite.py
index f89e526a9b34..bc4122805aaa 100644
--- a/pavelib/utils/test/suites/suite.py
+++ b/pavelib/utils/test/suites/suite.py
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ def cmd(self):
         """
         return None
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def is_success(exit_code):
+        """
+        Determine if the given exit code represents a success of the test
+        suite.  By default, only a zero counts as a success.
+        """
+        return exit_code == 0
+
     def run_test(self):
         """
         Runs a self.cmd in a subprocess and waits for it to finish.
@@ -88,7 +96,7 @@ def run_test(self):
 
         try:
             process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, **kwargs)
-            return (process.wait() == 0)
+            return self.is_success(process.wait())
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             kill_process(process)
             sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/requirements/edx/github.txt b/requirements/edx/github.txt
index 9f053a445fd8..5ec205361386 100644
--- a/requirements/edx/github.txt
+++ b/requirements/edx/github.txt
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 
 # Third-party:
 git+https://github.com/jazzband/django-pipeline.git@d068a019169c9de5ee20ece041a6dea236422852#egg=django-pipeline==1.5.3
-git+https://github.com/edx/django-wiki.git@v0.0.11#egg=django-wiki==0.0.11
+git+https://github.com/edx/django-wiki.git@v0.0.14#egg=django-wiki==0.0.14
 git+https://github.com/edx/django-openid-auth.git@0.14#egg=django-openid-auth==0.14
 git+https://github.com/edx/MongoDBProxy.git@25b99097615bda06bd7cdfe5669ed80dc2a7fed0#egg=MongoDBProxy==0.1.0
 git+https://github.com/edx/nltk.git@2.0.6#egg=nltk==2.0.6
diff --git a/requirements/edx/testing.txt b/requirements/edx/testing.txt
index 767d019b8bda..e33b13d5ca27 100644
--- a/requirements/edx/testing.txt
+++ b/requirements/edx/testing.txt
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@ pysqlite==2.8.3
 pytest==3.1.3
 pytest-attrib==0.1.3
 pytest-catchlog==1.2.2
+pytest-cov==2.5.1
 pytest-django==3.1.2
-pytest-xdist==1.18.1
+pytest-forked==0.2
+pytest-randomly==1.2.1
+pytest-xdist==1.20.0
diff --git a/scripts/generic-ci-tests.sh b/scripts/generic-ci-tests.sh
index 65535c3f9c28..702a4dd7336f 100755
--- a/scripts/generic-ci-tests.sh
+++ b/scripts/generic-ci-tests.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ set -e
 #   `SHARD` is a number indicating which subset of the tests to build.
 #
 #       For "bok-choy" and "lms-unit", the tests are put into shard groups
-#       using the nose 'attr' decorator (e.g. "@attr(shard=1)"). Anything with
+#       using the 'attr' decorator (e.g. "@attr(shard=1)"). Anything with
 #       the 'shard=n' attribute will run in the nth shard. If there isn't a
 #       shard explicitly assigned, the test will run in the last shard.
 #
@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ function emptyxunit {
 END
 
 }
-PAVER_ARGS="--cov-args='-p' --with-xunitmp -v"
+PAVER_ARGS="-v"
 PARALLEL="--processes=-1"
+export SUBSET_JOB=$JOB_NAME
 case "$TEST_SUITE" in
 
     "quality")
@@ -108,10 +109,10 @@ case "$TEST_SUITE" in
                 paver test_system -s lms $PAVER_ARGS $PARALLEL 2> lms-tests.log
                 ;;
             [1-3])
-                paver test_system -s lms --attr="shard=$SHARD" $PAVER_ARGS $PARALLEL 2> lms-tests.$SHARD.log
+                paver test_system -s lms --eval-attr="shard==$SHARD" $PAVER_ARGS $PARALLEL 2> lms-tests.$SHARD.log
                 ;;
             4|"noshard")
-                paver test_system -s lms --attr='!shard' $PAVER_ARGS $PARALLEL 2> lms-tests.4.log
+                paver test_system -s lms --eval-attr='not shard' $PAVER_ARGS $PARALLEL 2> lms-tests.4.log
                 ;;
             *)
                 # If no shard is specified, rather than running all tests, create an empty xunit file. This is a
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 9123e9f69a64..4d6f804c78d2 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ process-timeout=300
 #pdb=1
 
 [tool:pytest]
-norecursedirs = .git conf node_modules test_root cms/envs lms/envs
+DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE = lms.envs.test
+addopts = --nomigrations --reuse-db --durations=20
+norecursedirs = .* *.egg build conf dist node_modules test_root cms/envs lms/envs
+python_classes =
+python_files = tests.py test_*.py tests_*.py *_tests.py __init__.py
 
 [pep8]
 # error codes: http://pep8.readthedocs.org/en/latest/intro.html#error-codes