diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
index 51fc514c4879..4d3e413f5a2a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
@@ -3455,6 +3455,15 @@ def test_list_entrance_exam_instructor_with_invalid_exam_key(self):
         })
         assert response.status_code == 400
 
+    def test_skip_entrance_exam_student_with_invalid_student(self):
+        """ Test skip entrance exam api for non existing user. """
+        # create a re-score entrance exam task
+        url = reverse('mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam', kwargs={'course_id': str(self.course.id)})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {
+            'unique_student_identifier': 'test',
+        })
+        assert response.status_code == 400
+
     def test_skip_entrance_exam_student(self):
         """ Test skip entrance exam api for student. """
         # create a re-score entrance exam task
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 5ac663d38418..94184f6d9373 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -3203,28 +3203,40 @@ def enable_certificate_generation(request, course_id=None):
     return redirect(_instructor_dash_url(course_key, section='certificates'))
 
 
-@ensure_csrf_cookie
-@cache_control(no_cache=True, no_store=True, must_revalidate=True)
-@require_course_permission(permissions.ALLOW_STUDENT_TO_BYPASS_ENTRANCE_EXAM)
-@require_POST
-def mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam(request, course_id):
+@method_decorator(cache_control(no_cache=True, no_store=True, must_revalidate=True), name='dispatch')
+class MarkStudentCanSkipEntranceExam(APIView):
     """
     Mark a student to skip entrance exam.
-    Takes `unique_student_identifier` as required POST parameter.
     """
-    course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
-    student_identifier = request.POST.get('unique_student_identifier')
-    student = get_student_from_identifier(student_identifier)
+    permission_classes = (IsAuthenticated, permissions.InstructorPermission)
+    permission_name = permissions.ALLOW_STUDENT_TO_BYPASS_ENTRANCE_EXAM
 
-    __, created = EntranceExamConfiguration.objects.get_or_create(user=student, course_id=course_id)
-    if created:
-        message = _('This student (%s) will skip the entrance exam.') % student_identifier
-    else:
-        message = _('This student (%s) is already allowed to skip the entrance exam.') % student_identifier
-    response_payload = {
-        'message': message,
-    }
-    return JsonResponse(response_payload)
+    @method_decorator(ensure_csrf_cookie)
+    def post(self, request, course_id):
+        """
+        Takes `unique_student_identifier` as required POST parameter.
+        """
+        course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
+        student_identifier = request.data.get("unique_student_identifier")
+
+        serializer_data = UniqueStudentIdentifierSerializer(data=request.data)
+        if not serializer_data.is_valid():
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest(reason=serializer_data.errors)
+
+        student = serializer_data.validated_data.get('unique_student_identifier')
+        if not student:
+            response_payload = f'Could not find student matching : {student_identifier}'
+            return JsonResponse({'error': response_payload}, status=400)
+
+        __, created = EntranceExamConfiguration.objects.get_or_create(user=student, course_id=course_id)
+        if created:
+            message = _('This student (%s) will skip the entrance exam.') % student_identifier
+        else:
+            message = _('This student (%s) is already allowed to skip the entrance exam.') % student_identifier
+        response_payload = {
+            'message': message,
+        }
+        return JsonResponse(response_payload)
 
 
 @transaction.non_atomic_requests
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api_urls.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api_urls.py
index 3e4a9c1f3274..5976411a9756 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api_urls.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api_urls.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     path('rescore_entrance_exam', api.rescore_entrance_exam, name='rescore_entrance_exam'),
     path('list_entrance_exam_instructor_tasks', api.ListEntranceExamInstructorTasks.as_view(),
          name='list_entrance_exam_instructor_tasks'),
-    path('mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam', api.mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam,
+    path('mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam', api.MarkStudentCanSkipEntranceExam.as_view(),
          name='mark_student_can_skip_entrance_exam'),
     path('list_instructor_tasks', api.ListInstructorTasks.as_view(), name='list_instructor_tasks'),
     path('list_background_email_tasks', api.list_background_email_tasks, name='list_background_email_tasks'),