diff --git a/ordr/__init__.py b/ordr/__init__.py
index 2034961..2a89ec2 100644
--- a/ordr/__init__.py
+++ b/ordr/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ def main(global_config, **settings):
     config.include('pyramid_jinja2')
     config.include('.models')
     config.include('.resources')
+    config.include('.schemas')
     config.include('.security')
     config.add_static_view('static', 'static', cache_max_age=3600)
     config.scan()
diff --git a/ordr/resources/__init__.py b/ordr/resources/__init__.py
index b395b9a..5f13291 100644
--- a/ordr/resources/__init__.py
+++ b/ordr/resources/__init__.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class RootResource:
         :raises: KeyError if child resource is not found
         '''
         map = {
-            'registration': RegistrationResource
+            'register': RegistrationResource
             }
         child_class = map[key]
         return child_class(request=self.request, name=key, parent=self)
diff --git a/ordr/resources/account.py b/ordr/resources/account.py
index 662504c..cbcb891 100644
--- a/ordr/resources/account.py
+++ b/ordr/resources/account.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 ''' Resources (sub) package, used to connect URLs to views '''
 
 from pyramid.security import Allow, Everyone, DENY_ALL
+from ordr.schemas.account import RegistrationSchema
 
+from .helpers import BaseChildResource
 
-class RegistrationResource:
+
+class RegistrationResource(BaseChildResource):
     ''' The resource for new user registration
 
     :param pyramid.request.Request request: the current request object
@@ -11,19 +14,16 @@ class RegistrationResource:
     :param parent: the parent resouce
     '''
     
-    nav_active = 'welcome'
-
-    def __init__(self, request, name, parent):
-        ''' Create registration resource
-
-        :param pyramid.request.Request request: the current request object
-        :param str name: the name of the resource
-        :param parent: the parent resouce
-        '''
-        self.request = request
-        self.__name__ = name
-        self.__parent__ = parent
+    nav_active = 'registration'
 
     def __acl__(self):
         ''' access controll list for the resource '''
         return [(Allow, Everyone, 'view'), DENY_ALL]
+        
+    def get_registration_form(self, **override):
+        ''' returns the registration form'''
+        settings = {
+            'buttons': ('Create account', 'Cancel'),
+            }
+        settings.update(override)
+        return self._prepare_form(RegistrationSchema, **settings)
diff --git a/ordr/resources/helpers.py b/ordr/resources/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9efb2df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/resources/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+''' Resources (sub) package, used to connect URLs to views '''
+
+from pyramid.security import Allow, Everyone, DENY_ALL
+
+
+class BaseChildResource:
+
+    def __init__(self, request, name, parent):
+        ''' Create a child resource
+
+        :param pyramid.request.Request request: the current request object
+        :param str name: the name of the resource
+        :param parent: the parent resouce
+        '''
+        self.request = request
+        self.__name__ = name
+        self.__parent__ = parent
+        
+    def __acl__(self):
+        ''' access controll list for the resource '''
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+    
+    def _prepare_form(self, schema, prefill=None, **settings):
+        ''' prepares a deform form for the resource'''
+        form = schema.as_form(self.request, **settings)
+        if prefill is not None:
+            form.set_appstruct(prefill)
+        return form
diff --git a/ordr/schemas/__init__.py b/ordr/schemas/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7989d24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/schemas/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+''' Schemas (sub) package, for form rendering and validation '''
+
+import colander
+import deform
+
+from deform.renderer import configure_zpt_renderer
+
+from .helpers import (
+    deferred_csrf_default,
+    deferred_csrf_validator
+    )
+
+
+# Base Schema
+
+class CSRFSchema(colander.Schema):
+    ''' base class for schemas with csrf validation '''
+
+    csrf_token = colander.SchemaNode(
+        colander.String(),
+        default=deferred_csrf_default,
+        validator=deferred_csrf_validator,
+        widget=deform.widget.HiddenWidget(),
+        )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def as_form(cls, request, url=None, **kwargs):
+        ''' returns the schema as a form
+
+        :param pyramid.request.Request request: the current request
+        :param str url:
+            form action url,
+            url is not set, the current context and view name will be used to
+            constuct a url for the form
+        :param kwargs:
+            additional parameters for the form rendering.
+        '''
+        if url is None:
+            url = request.resource_url(request.context, request.view_name)
+        schema = cls().bind(request=request)
+        form = deform.Form(schema, action=url, **kwargs)
+        return form
+
+
+def includeme(config):
+    '''
+    Initialize the form schemas
+
+    Activate this setup using ``config.include('ordr.schemas')``.
+
+    '''
+    # Make Deform widgets aware of our widget template paths
+    configure_zpt_renderer(['ordr:templates/deform'])
diff --git a/ordr/schemas/account.py b/ordr/schemas/account.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1eb3a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/schemas/account.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import colander
+import deform
+
+
+from . import CSRFSchema
+from .helpers import (
+    deferred_unique_email_validator,
+    deferred_unique_username_validator,
+    )
+
+
+# schema for user registration
+
+class RegistrationSchema(CSRFSchema):
+    ''' new user registration '''
+
+    username = colander.SchemaNode(
+        colander.String(),
+        widget=deform.widget.TextInputWidget(readonly=True),
+        description='automagically generated for you',
+        validator=deferred_unique_username_validator,
+        )
+    first_name = colander.SchemaNode(
+        colander.String()
+        )
+    last_name = colander.SchemaNode(
+        colander.String()
+        )
+    email = colander.SchemaNode(
+        colander.String(),
+        validator=deferred_unique_email_validator
+        )
+    password = colander.SchemaNode(
+        colander.String(),
+        widget=deform.widget.CheckedPasswordWidget()
+        )
diff --git a/ordr/schemas/helpers.py b/ordr/schemas/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efa1798
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/schemas/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+''' helper functions for schemas '''
+
+import colander
+
+from pyramid.csrf import get_csrf_token, check_csrf_token
+
+from ordr.models import User
+
+
+@colander.deferred
+def deferred_csrf_default(node, kw):
+    ''' sets the current csrf token '''
+    request = kw.get('request')
+    return get_csrf_token(request)
+
+
+@colander.deferred
+def deferred_csrf_validator(node, kw):
+    ''' validates a submitted csrf token '''
+    def validate_csrf(node, value):
+        request = kw.get('request')
+        if not check_csrf_token(request, raises=False):
+            raise colander.Invalid(node, 'Bad CSRF token')
+    return validate_csrf
+
+
+@colander.deferred
+def deferred_unique_username_validator(node, kw):
+    ''' checks if an username is not registered already '''
+
+    def validate_unique_username(node, value):
+        request = kw.get('request')
+        user = request.dbsession.query(User).filter_by(username=value).first()
+        if user is not None:
+            raise colander.Invalid(node, 'User name already registered')
+    return validate_unique_username
+
+
+@colander.deferred
+def deferred_unique_email_validator(node, kw):
+    ''' checks if an email is not registered already '''
+    email_validator = colander.Email()
+
+    def validate_unique_email(node, value):
+        email_validator(node, value)  # raises exception on invalid address
+        request = kw.get('request')
+        user = request.dbsession.query(User).filter_by(email=value).first()
+        if user not in (None, request.context.model):
+            # allow existing email addresses if
+            # it belongs to the user that is currently edited
+            raise colander.Invalid(node, 'Email address in use')
+    return validate_unique_email
+
+
+@colander.deferred
+def deferred_password_validator(node, kw):
+    ''' checks password confirmation for settings '''
+
+    def validate_password_confirmation(node, value):
+        request = kw.get('request')
+        if request.user is None or not request.user.check_password(value):
+            raise colander.Invalid(node, 'Wrong password')
+    return validate_password_confirmation
diff --git a/ordr/templates/account/registration_form.jinja2 b/ordr/templates/account/registration_form.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..806a9d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/templates/account/registration_form.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{% extends "ordr:templates/layout.jinja2" %}
+
+{% block content %}
+    {{ context.get_registration_form().render()|safe }}
+{% endblock content %}
diff --git a/ordr/templates/layout.jinja2 b/ordr/templates/layout.jinja2
index 35c0138..617cda6 100644
--- a/ordr/templates/layout.jinja2
+++ b/ordr/templates/layout.jinja2
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
                 <li class="nav-item {% if context.nav_active=='welcome' and request.view_name=='faq' %}active{% endif %}">
                     <a href="/faq" class="nav-link">FAQs</a>
                 </li>
-                <li class="nav-item {% if context.nav_active=='welcome' and request.view_name=='register' %}active{% endif %}">
+                <li class="nav-item {% if context.nav_active=='registration' %}active{% endif %}">
                     <a href="/register" class="nav-link">Register</a>
                 </li>
             </ul>
diff --git a/ordr/views/registration.py b/ordr/views/registration.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..232de9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/views/registration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# from pyramid.httpexceptions import HTTPFound
+from pyramid.view import view_config
+
+# from ordr.models import User
+
+
+@view_config(
+    context='ordr.resources.account.RegistrationResource',
+    permission='view',
+    request_method='GET',
+    renderer='ordr:templates/account/registration_form.jinja2'
+    )
+def registration_form(context, request):
+    return {}
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c8b4fe2..98c1526 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ with open(os.path.join(here, 'CHANGES.txt')) as f:
 requires = [
     'argon2_cffi',
     'bcrypt',
+    'deform',
     'passlib',
     'plaster_pastedeploy',
     'pyramid >= 1.9a',
diff --git a/tests/_functional/registration.py b/tests/_functional/registration.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44b5c07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_functional/registration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+''' functional tests for ordr2.views.registration '''
+
+from . import testappsetup, testapp  # noqa: F401
+
+
+def test_registration_form(testapp):  # noqa: F811
+    result = testapp.get('/register')
+    active = result.html.find('li', class_='active')
+    assert active.a['href'] == '/register'
diff --git a/tests/resources/account.py b/tests/resources/account.py
index 03c6cce..1fba2f0 100644
--- a/tests/resources/account.py
+++ b/tests/resources/account.py
@@ -1,20 +1,22 @@
 ''' Tests for the account resources '''
 
-
-def test_registration_init():
-    from ordr.resources.account import RegistrationResource
-    resource = RegistrationResource(
-        request='some request',
-        name='a name',
-        parent='the parent'
-        )
-    assert resource.__name__ == 'a name'
-    assert resource.__parent__ == 'the parent'
-    assert resource.request == 'some request'
-
+from pyramid.testing import DummyRequest
     
+
 def test_registration_acl():
     from pyramid.security import Allow, Everyone, DENY_ALL
     from ordr.resources.account import RegistrationResource
     resource = RegistrationResource('some request', 'a name', 'the parent')
     assert resource.__acl__() == [(Allow, Everyone, 'view'), DENY_ALL]
+    
+def test_registration_get_registration_form():
+    from pyramid.security import Allow, Everyone, DENY_ALL
+    from ordr.resources.account import RegistrationResource
+    import deform
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    resource = RegistrationResource(request, 'a name', 'the parent')
+    form = resource.get_registration_form()
+    assert isinstance(form, deform.Form)
+    assert len(form.buttons) == 2
+    assert form.buttons[0].title == 'Create account'
+    assert form.buttons[1].title == 'Cancel'
diff --git a/tests/resources/base_child_resource.py b/tests/resources/base_child_resource.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94753ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/resources/base_child_resource.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+''' Tests for the root resource '''
+
+import pytest
+
+from pyramid.testing import DummyRequest, DummyResource
+
+
+def test_base_child_init():
+    from ordr.resources.helpers import BaseChildResource
+    resource = BaseChildResource(
+        request='some request',
+        name='a name',
+        parent='the parent'
+        )
+    assert resource.__name__ == 'a name'
+    assert resource.__parent__ == 'the parent'
+    assert resource.request == 'some request'
+
+
+def test_base_child_acl():
+    from ordr.resources.helpers import BaseChildResource
+    resource = BaseChildResource(
+        request='some request',
+        name='a name',
+        parent='the parent'
+        )
+    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+        resource.__acl__()
+
+
+def test_base_child_prepare_form():
+    from ordr.resources.helpers import BaseChildResource
+    from ordr.schemas.account import RegistrationSchema
+    import deform
+    parent = DummyResource()
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    resource = BaseChildResource(request, 'a name', parent)
+    form = resource._prepare_form(RegistrationSchema)
+    assert isinstance(form, deform.Form)
+    assert form.action == 'http://example.com//'
+    assert len(form.buttons) == 0
+
+
+def test_base_child_prepare_form_url():
+    from ordr.resources.helpers import BaseChildResource
+    from ordr.schemas.account import RegistrationSchema
+    parent = DummyResource()
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    resource = BaseChildResource(request, 'a name', parent)
+    form = resource._prepare_form(RegistrationSchema, url='/foo')
+    assert form.action == '/foo'
+
+
+def test_base_child_prepare_form_settings():
+    from ordr.resources.helpers import BaseChildResource
+    from ordr.schemas.account import RegistrationSchema
+    import deform
+    parent = DummyResource()
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    resource = BaseChildResource(request, 'a name', parent)
+    settings = {'buttons': ('ok', 'cancel')}
+    form = resource._prepare_form(RegistrationSchema, **settings)
+    assert len(form.buttons) == 2
+    assert isinstance(form.buttons[0], deform.Button)
+    assert isinstance(form.buttons[1], deform.Button)
diff --git a/tests/resources/root.py b/tests/resources/root.py
index 4926532..8c6ff63 100644
--- a/tests/resources/root.py
+++ b/tests/resources/root.py
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ def test_root_getitem():
     from ordr.resources import RootResource
     from ordr.resources.account import RegistrationResource
     root = RootResource(None)
-    child = root['registration']
+    child = root['register']
     assert isinstance(child, RegistrationResource)
-    assert child.__name__ == 'registration'
+    assert child.__name__ == 'register'
     assert child.__parent__ == root
     assert child.request == root.request
 
diff --git a/tests/schemas/__init__.py b/tests/schemas/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2257fd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/schemas/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+''' Test package for ordr.schemas '''
+
+from pyramid.testing import DummyRequest, DummyResource
+
+
+def test_csrf_schema_form_with_custom_url():
+    ''' test for creation with custom url '''
+    from ordr.schemas import CSRFSchema
+
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    form = CSRFSchema.as_form(request, url='/Nudge/Nudge')
+
+    assert form.action == '/Nudge/Nudge'
+    assert form.buttons == []
+
+
+def test_csrf_schema_form_with_automatic_url():
+    ''' test for creation with custom url '''
+    from ordr.schemas import CSRFSchema
+    root = DummyResource()
+    context = DummyResource('Crunchy', root)
+
+    request = DummyRequest(context=context, view_name='Frog')
+    form = CSRFSchema.as_form(request, buttons=['submit'])
+
+    assert 'http://example.com/Crunchy/Frog' == form.action
+    assert len(form.buttons) == 1
+    assert form.buttons[0].type == 'submit'
diff --git a/tests/schemas/helpers.py b/tests/schemas/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d27d808
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/schemas/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+''' Tests for ordr.schemas.helpers '''
+
+import pytest
+
+from pyramid.testing import DummyRequest, DummyResource
+
+from .. import app_config, dbsession, get_example_user  # noqa: F401
+
+
+def test_deferred_csrf_default():
+    ''' deferred_csrf_default should return a csrf token '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_csrf_default
+    from pyramid.csrf import get_csrf_token
+
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    token = deferred_csrf_default(None, {'request': request})
+
+    assert token == get_csrf_token(request)
+
+
+def test_deferred_csrf_validator_ok():
+    ''' test deferred_csrf_validator with valid csrf token '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_csrf_validator
+    from pyramid.csrf import get_csrf_token
+
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    token = get_csrf_token(request)
+    request.POST = {'csrf_token': token}
+    validation_func = deferred_csrf_validator(None, {'request': request})
+
+    assert validation_func(None, None) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('post', [{}, {'csrf_token': 'Albatross!'}])
+def test_deferred_csrf_validator_fails_on_no_csrf_token(post):
+    ''' test deferred_csrf_validator with invalid or missing csrf token '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_csrf_validator
+    from colander import Invalid
+
+    request = DummyRequest()
+    request.POST = post
+    validation_func = deferred_csrf_validator(None, {'request': request})
+
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        assert validation_func(None, None) is None
+
+
+def test_deferred_unique_username_validator_ok(dbsession):  # noqa: F811
+    ''' unknown usernames should not raise an invalidation error '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_unique_username_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+
+    request = DummyRequest(dbsession=dbsession)
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    dbsession.add(user)
+    validation_func = deferred_unique_username_validator(
+        None,
+        {'request': request}
+        )
+
+    assert validation_func(None, 'AnneElk') is None
+
+
+def test_deferred_unique_username_validator_fails(dbsession):  # noqa: F811
+    ''' known  username should raise an invalidation error '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_unique_username_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+    from colander import Invalid
+
+    request = DummyRequest(dbsession=dbsession)
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    dbsession.add(user)
+    validation_func = deferred_unique_username_validator(
+        None,
+        {'request': request}
+        )
+
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        assert validation_func(None, 'TerryGilliam') is None
+
+
+def test_deferred_unique_email_validator_ok(dbsession):  # noqa: F811
+    ''' unknown emails should not raise an invalidation error '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_unique_email_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+
+    context = DummyResource(model=None)
+    request = DummyRequest(dbsession=dbsession, context=context)
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    dbsession.add(user)
+    validation_func = deferred_unique_email_validator(
+        None,
+        {'request': request}
+        )
+
+    assert validation_func(None, 'elk@example.com') is None
+
+
+def test_deferred_unique_email_validator_ok_same_user(dbsession):  # noqa: F811
+    ''' known emails of a user might not raise an error
+
+    if a user is edited and the mail address is not change, no invalidation
+    error should be raised
+    '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_unique_email_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    context = DummyResource(model=user)
+    request = DummyRequest(dbsession=dbsession, context=context)
+    dbsession.add(user)
+    validation_func = deferred_unique_email_validator(
+        None,
+        {'request': request}
+        )
+
+    assert validation_func(None, user.email) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(  # noqa: F811
+    'email', ['', 'gilliam@example.com', 'malformed']
+    )
+def test_deferred_unique_email_validator_fails(dbsession, email):
+    ''' known, empty or malformed emails should raise an invalidation error '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_unique_email_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+    from colander import Invalid
+
+    context = DummyResource(model=None)
+    request = DummyRequest(dbsession=dbsession, context=context)
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    dbsession.add(user)
+    validation_func = deferred_unique_email_validator(
+        None,
+        {'request': request}
+        )
+
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        assert validation_func(None, email) is None
+
+
+def test_deferred_password_validator_ok():
+    ''' correct password should not raise invalidation error '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_password_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    request = DummyRequest(user=user)
+    validation_func = deferred_password_validator(None, {'request': request})
+
+    assert validation_func(None, 'Terry') is None
+
+
+def test_deferred_password_validator_fails():
+    ''' incorrect password should raise invalidation error '''
+    from ordr.schemas.helpers import deferred_password_validator
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+    from colander import Invalid
+
+    user = get_example_user(Role.USER)
+    request = DummyRequest(user=user)
+    validation_func = deferred_password_validator(None, {'request': request})
+
+    with pytest.raises(Invalid):
+        assert validation_func(None, 'Wrong Password') is None
diff --git a/tests/views/registration.py b/tests/views/registration.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..255543c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/views/registration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import pytest
+
+from pyramid.httpexceptions import HTTPFound
+from pyramid.testing import DummyRequest
+
+from .. import app_config, dbsession  # noqa: F401
+
+
+def test_faq():
+    from ordr.views.registration import registration_form
+    result = registration_form(None, None)
+    assert result == {}