diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-cred-provider-abstract-class-to-lib-70ff513221f8a871.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-cred-provider-abstract-class-to-lib-70ff513221f8a871.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6f7a41188a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-cred-provider-abstract-class-to-lib-70ff513221f8a871.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+features:
+  - The cred_provider abstract class which serves as the basis for both
+    of tempest's cred providers, pre-provisioned credentials and dynamic
+    credentials, is now a library interface. This provides the common signature
+    required for building a credential provider.
diff --git a/tempest/common/dynamic_creds.py b/tempest/common/dynamic_creds.py
index 41bf4f8acb..8c54d78085 100644
--- a/tempest/common/dynamic_creds.py
+++ b/tempest/common/dynamic_creds.py
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ import six
 
 from tempest import clients
 from tempest.common import cred_client
-from tempest.common import cred_provider
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
 from tempest import exceptions
+from tempest.lib.common import cred_provider
 from tempest.lib import exceptions as lib_exc
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/tempest/common/preprov_creds.py b/tempest/common/preprov_creds.py
index 5992d24d1f..893b71b3d4 100644
--- a/tempest/common/preprov_creds.py
+++ b/tempest/common/preprov_creds.py
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ import six
 import yaml
 
 from tempest import clients
-from tempest.common import cred_provider
 from tempest.common import fixed_network
 from tempest import exceptions
 from tempest.lib import auth
+from tempest.lib.common import cred_provider
 from tempest.lib import exceptions as lib_exc
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/tempest/common/cred_provider.py b/tempest/lib/common/cred_provider.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tempest/common/cred_provider.py
rename to tempest/lib/common/cred_provider.py
diff --git a/tempest/tests/common/test_preprov_creds.py b/tempest/tests/common/test_preprov_creds.py
index 13d47139a4..f824b6c018 100644
--- a/tempest/tests/common/test_preprov_creds.py
+++ b/tempest/tests/common/test_preprov_creds.py
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ from oslotest import mockpatch
 import shutil
 import six
 
-from tempest.common import cred_provider
 from tempest.common import preprov_creds
 from tempest import config
 from tempest.lib import auth
+from tempest.lib.common import cred_provider
 from tempest.lib import exceptions as lib_exc
 from tempest.tests import base
 from tempest.tests import fake_config