diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernel/default.ts b/packages/services/src/kernel/default.ts
index d770157cf691..3e1757335eb7 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/kernel/default.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernel/default.ts
@@ -28,17 +28,13 @@ import {
 import * as serialize from './serialize';
 
 import * as validate from './validate';
+import { KernelSpec } from '../kernelspec/kernelspec';
 
 /**
  * The url for the kernel service.
  */
 const KERNEL_SERVICE_URL = 'api/kernels';
 
-/**
- * The url for the kernelspec service.
- */
-const KERNELSPEC_SERVICE_URL = 'api/kernelspecs';
-
 // Stub for requirejs.
 declare var requirejs: any;
 
@@ -233,11 +229,11 @@ export class DefaultKernel implements Kernel.IKernel {
    *
    * @returns A promise that resolves with the kernel spec.
    */
-  getSpec(): Promise<Kernel.ISpecModel> {
+  getSpec(): Promise<KernelSpec.ISpecModel> {
     if (this._specPromise) {
       return this._specPromise;
     }
-    this._specPromise = Private.findSpecs(this.serverSettings).then(specs => {
+    this._specPromise = KernelSpec.getSpecs(this.serverSettings).then(specs => {
       return specs.kernelspecs[this._name];
     });
     return this._specPromise;
@@ -1437,7 +1433,7 @@ export class DefaultKernel implements Kernel.IKernel {
   } = Object.create(null);
   private _info = new PromiseDelegate<KernelMessage.IInfoReply>();
   private _pendingMessages: KernelMessage.IMessage[] = [];
-  private _specPromise: Promise<Kernel.ISpecModel>;
+  private _specPromise: Promise<KernelSpec.ISpecModel>;
   private _statusChanged = new Signal<this, Kernel.Status>(this);
   private _connectionStatusChanged = new Signal<this, Kernel.ConnectionStatus>(
     this
@@ -1481,22 +1477,6 @@ export namespace DefaultKernel {
     return Private.findById(id, settings);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Fetch all of the kernel specs.
-   *
-   * @param settings - The optional server settings.
-   *
-   * @returns A promise that resolves with the kernel specs.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * Uses the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
-   */
-  export function getSpecs(
-    settings?: ServerConnection.ISettings
-  ): Promise<Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    return Private.getSpecs(settings);
-  }
-
   /**
    * Fetch the running kernels.
    *
@@ -1594,13 +1574,6 @@ namespace Private {
    */
   export const runningKernels: DefaultKernel[] = [];
 
-  /**
-   * A module private store of kernel specs by base url.
-   */
-  export const specs: {
-    [key: string]: Promise<Kernel.ISpecModels>;
-  } = Object.create(null);
-
   /**
    * Find a kernel by id.
    *
@@ -1630,45 +1603,6 @@ namespace Private {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Get the cached kernel specs or fetch them.
-   */
-  export function findSpecs(
-    settings?: ServerConnection.ISettings
-  ): Promise<Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    settings = settings || ServerConnection.makeSettings();
-    let promise = specs[settings.baseUrl];
-    if (promise) {
-      return promise;
-    }
-    return getSpecs(settings);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Fetch all of the kernel specs.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * Uses the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
-   */
-  export function getSpecs(
-    settings?: ServerConnection.ISettings
-  ): Promise<Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    settings = settings || ServerConnection.makeSettings();
-    let url = URLExt.join(settings.baseUrl, KERNELSPEC_SERVICE_URL);
-    let promise = ServerConnection.makeRequest(url, {}, settings)
-      .then(response => {
-        if (response.status !== 200) {
-          throw new ServerConnection.ResponseError(response);
-        }
-        return response.json();
-      })
-      .then(data => {
-        return validate.validateSpecModels(data);
-      });
-    Private.specs[settings.baseUrl] = promise;
-    return promise;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Fetch the running kernels.
    *
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernel/kernel.ts b/packages/services/src/kernel/kernel.ts
index b40f37e13c67..05c7f993d67c 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/kernel/kernel.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernel/kernel.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import { DefaultKernel } from './default';
 
 import { KernelMessage } from './messages';
 
+import { KernelSpec } from '../kernelspec';
+
 /**
  * A namespace for kernel types, interfaces, and type checker functions.
  */
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ export namespace Kernel {
      *
      * @returns A promise that resolves with the kernel spec for this kernel.
      */
-    getSpec(): Promise<Kernel.ISpecModel>;
+    getSpec(): Promise<KernelSpec.ISpecModel>;
 
     /**
      * Send a shell message to the kernel.
@@ -520,22 +522,6 @@ export namespace Kernel {
     return DefaultKernel.findById(id, settings);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Fetch all of the kernel specs.
-   *
-   * @param settings - The optional server settings.
-   *
-   * @returns A promise that resolves with the kernel specs.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * Uses the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
-   */
-  export function getSpecs(
-    settings?: ServerConnection.ISettings
-  ): Promise<Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    return DefaultKernel.getSpecs(settings);
-  }
-
   /**
    * Fetch the running kernels.
    *
@@ -662,15 +648,11 @@ export namespace Kernel {
    * Object which manages kernel instances for a given base url.
    *
    * #### Notes
-   * The manager is responsible for maintaining the state of running
-   * kernels and the initial fetch of kernel specs.
+   * The manager is responsible for maintaining the state of running kernels
+   * through polling the server. Use a manager if you want to be notified of
+   * changes to kernels.
    */
   export interface IManager extends IDisposable {
-    /**
-     * A signal emitted when the kernel specs change.
-     */
-    specsChanged: ISignal<IManager, ISpecModels>;
-
     /**
      * A signal emitted when the running kernels change.
      */
@@ -687,14 +669,6 @@ export namespace Kernel {
      */
     serverSettings?: ServerConnection.ISettings;
 
-    /**
-     * The kernel spec models.
-     *
-     * #### Notes
-     * The value will be null until the manager is ready.
-     */
-    readonly specs: Kernel.ISpecModels | null;
-
     /**
      * Whether the manager is ready.
      */
@@ -712,17 +686,6 @@ export namespace Kernel {
      */
     running(): IIterator<IModel>;
 
-    /**
-     * Force a refresh of the specs from the server.
-     *
-     * @returns A promise that resolves when the specs are fetched.
-     *
-     * #### Notes
-     * This is intended to be called only in response to a user action,
-     * since the manager maintains its internal state.
-     */
-    refreshSpecs(): Promise<void>;
-
     /**
      * Force a refresh of the running kernels.
      *
@@ -1049,67 +1012,6 @@ export namespace Kernel {
     readonly name: string;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Kernel Spec interface.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * See [Kernel specs](https://jupyter-client.readthedocs.io/en/latest/kernels.html#kernelspecs).
-   */
-  export interface ISpecModel extends JSONObject {
-    /**
-     * The name of the kernel spec.
-     */
-    readonly name: string;
-
-    /**
-     * The name of the language of the kernel.
-     */
-    readonly language: string;
-
-    /**
-     * A list of command line arguments used to start the kernel.
-     */
-    readonly argv: string[];
-
-    /**
-     * The kernel’s name as it should be displayed in the UI.
-     */
-    readonly display_name: string;
-
-    /**
-     * A dictionary of environment variables to set for the kernel.
-     */
-    readonly env?: JSONObject;
-
-    /**
-     * A mapping of resource file name to download path.
-     */
-    readonly resources: { [key: string]: string };
-
-    /**
-     * A dictionary of additional attributes about this kernel; used by clients to aid in kernel selection.
-     */
-    readonly metadata?: JSONObject;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * The available kernelSpec models.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * See the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
-   */
-  export interface ISpecModels extends JSONObject {
-    /**
-     * The name of the default kernel spec.
-     */
-    default: string;
-
-    /**
-     * A mapping of kernel spec name to spec.
-     */
-    readonly kernelspecs: { [key: string]: ISpecModel };
-  }
-
   /**
    * Arguments interface for the anyMessage signal.
    */
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernel/manager.ts b/packages/services/src/kernel/manager.ts
index f01d604f169f..d08e05ece07a 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/kernel/manager.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernel/manager.ts
@@ -32,15 +32,13 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
       options.serverSettings || ServerConnection.makeSettings();
 
     // Initialize internal data.
-    this._ready = Promise.all([this.requestRunning(), this.requestSpecs()])
-      .then(_ => undefined)
-      .catch(_ => undefined)
-      .then(() => {
-        if (this.isDisposed) {
-          return;
-        }
-        this._isReady = true;
-      });
+    this._ready = (async () => {
+      await this.requestRunning();
+      if (this.isDisposed) {
+        return;
+      }
+      this._isReady = true;
+    })();
 
     // Start model and specs polling with exponential backoff.
     this._pollModels = new Poll({
@@ -54,20 +52,8 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
       name: `@jupyterlab/services:KernelManager#models`,
       standby: options.standby || 'when-hidden'
     });
-    this._pollSpecs = new Poll({
-      auto: false,
-      factory: () => this.requestSpecs(),
-      frequency: {
-        interval: 61 * 1000,
-        backoff: true,
-        max: 300 * 1000
-      },
-      name: `@jupyterlab/services:KernelManager#specs`,
-      standby: options.standby || 'when-hidden'
-    });
     void this.ready.then(() => {
       void this._pollModels.start();
-      void this._pollSpecs.start();
     });
   }
 
@@ -77,7 +63,7 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
   readonly serverSettings: ServerConnection.ISettings;
 
   /**
-   * Test whether the terminal manager is disposed.
+   * Test whether the kernel manager is disposed.
    */
   get isDisposed(): boolean {
     return this._isDisposed;
@@ -104,20 +90,6 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
     return this._runningChanged;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Get the most recently fetched kernel specs.
-   */
-  get specs(): Kernel.ISpecModels | null {
-    return this._specs;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * A signal emitted when the specs change.
-   */
-  get specsChanged(): ISignal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    return this._specsChanged;
-  }
-
   /**
    * A signal emitted when there is a connection failure.
    */
@@ -148,7 +120,6 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
     this._isDisposed = true;
     this._models.length = 0;
     this._pollModels.dispose();
-    this._pollSpecs.dispose();
     Signal.clearData(this);
   }
 
@@ -177,20 +148,6 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
     await this._pollModels.tick;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Force a refresh of the specs from the server.
-   *
-   * @returns A promise that resolves when the specs are fetched.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * This is intended to be called only in response to a user action,
-   * since the manager maintains its internal state.
-   */
-  async refreshSpecs(): Promise<void> {
-    await this._pollSpecs.refresh();
-    await this._pollSpecs.tick;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Create an iterator over the most recent running kernels.
    *
@@ -313,20 +270,6 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Execute a request to the server to poll specs and update state.
-   */
-  protected async requestSpecs(): Promise<void> {
-    const specs = await Kernel.getSpecs(this.serverSettings);
-    if (this._isDisposed) {
-      return;
-    }
-    if (!JSONExt.deepEqual(specs, this._specs)) {
-      this._specs = specs;
-      this._specsChanged.emit(specs);
-    }
-  }
-
   /**
    * Handle a kernel starting.
    */
@@ -359,11 +302,8 @@ export class KernelManager implements Kernel.IManager {
   private _kernels = new Set<Kernel.IKernel>();
   private _models: Kernel.IModel[] = [];
   private _pollModels: Poll;
-  private _pollSpecs: Poll;
   private _ready: Promise<void>;
   private _runningChanged = new Signal<this, Kernel.IModel[]>(this);
-  private _specs: Kernel.ISpecModels | null = null;
-  private _specsChanged = new Signal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels>(this);
   private _connectionFailure = new Signal<this, Error>(this);
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernel/validate.ts b/packages/services/src/kernel/validate.ts
index 18d16b8da9ec..a459b205e0be 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/kernel/validate.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernel/validate.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ const IOPUB_CONTENT_FIELDS: { [key: string]: any } = {
   shutdown_reply: { restart: 'boolean' } // Emitted by the IPython kernel.
 };
 
-
 /**
  * Validate the header of a kernel message.
  */
@@ -90,4 +89,3 @@ export function validateModel(model: Kernel.IModel): void {
   validateProperty(model, 'name', 'string');
   validateProperty(model, 'id', 'string');
 }
-
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernelspec/default.ts b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/default.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7fbbfc4ff81f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/default.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+// Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
+// Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+
+import { KernelSpec } from './kernelspec';
+import { ServerConnection } from '../serverconnection';
+import { URLExt } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
+import { validateSpecModels } from './validate';
+
+/**
+ * The url for the kernelspec service.
+ */
+const KERNELSPEC_SERVICE_URL = 'api/kernelspecs';
+
+export namespace DefaultKernelSpec {
+  /**
+   * Fetch all of the kernel specs.
+   *
+   * @param settings - The optional server settings.
+   * @param useCache - Whether to use the cache. If false, always request.
+   *
+   * @returns A promise that resolves with the kernel specs.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * Uses the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
+   */
+  export function getSpecs(
+    settings?: ServerConnection.ISettings,
+    useCache = true
+  ): Promise<KernelSpec.ISpecModels> {
+    settings = settings || ServerConnection.makeSettings();
+    if (useCache && Private.specs[settings.baseUrl]) {
+      return Private.specs[settings.baseUrl];
+    }
+
+    let url = URLExt.join(settings.baseUrl, KERNELSPEC_SERVICE_URL);
+    let promise = Private.requestSpecs(url, settings);
+    Private.specs[settings.baseUrl] = promise;
+    return promise;
+  }
+}
+
+namespace Private {
+  /**
+   * A module private store of kernel specs by base url.
+   */
+  export const specs: {
+    [key: string]: Promise<KernelSpec.ISpecModels>;
+  } = Object.create(null);
+
+  /**
+   * Fetch all of the kernel specs.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * Uses the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
+   */
+
+  export async function requestSpecs(
+    url: string,
+    settings: ServerConnection.ISettings
+  ): Promise<KernelSpec.ISpecModels> {
+    const response = await ServerConnection.makeRequest(url, {}, settings);
+    if (response.status !== 200) {
+      throw new ServerConnection.ResponseError(response);
+    }
+    const data = await response.json();
+    return validateSpecModels(data);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernelspec/index.ts b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..36f94d6f3e3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
+// Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+'use strict';
+
+export * from './kernelspec';
+export * from './manager';
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernelspec/kernelspec.ts b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/kernelspec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f255d5d0b4df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/kernelspec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+// Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
+// Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+
+import { JSONObject } from '@phosphor/coreutils';
+import { ServerConnection } from '..';
+import { DefaultKernelSpec } from './default';
+import { ISignal } from '@phosphor/signaling';
+import { IDisposable } from '@phosphor/disposable';
+
+export namespace KernelSpec {
+  /**
+   * Kernel Spec interface.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * See [Kernel specs](https://jupyter-client.readthedocs.io/en/latest/kernels.html#kernelspecs).
+   */
+  export interface ISpecModel extends JSONObject {
+    /**
+     * The name of the kernel spec.
+     */
+    readonly name: string;
+
+    /**
+     * The name of the language of the kernel.
+     */
+    readonly language: string;
+
+    /**
+     * A list of command line arguments used to start the kernel.
+     */
+    readonly argv: string[];
+
+    /**
+     * The kernel’s name as it should be displayed in the UI.
+     */
+    readonly display_name: string;
+
+    /**
+     * A dictionary of environment variables to set for the kernel.
+     */
+    readonly env?: JSONObject;
+
+    /**
+     * A mapping of resource file name to download path.
+     */
+    readonly resources: { [key: string]: string };
+
+    /**
+     * A dictionary of additional attributes about this kernel; used by clients to aid in kernel selection.
+     */
+    readonly metadata?: JSONObject;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The available kernelSpec models.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * See the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
+   */
+  export interface ISpecModels extends JSONObject {
+    /**
+     * The name of the default kernel spec.
+     */
+    default: string;
+
+    /**
+     * A mapping of kernel spec name to spec.
+     */
+    readonly kernelspecs: { [key: string]: ISpecModel };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Fetch all of the kernel specs.
+   *
+   * @param settings - The optional server settings.
+   *
+   * @returns A promise that resolves with the kernel specs.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * Uses the [Jupyter Notebook API](http://petstore.swagger.io/?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jupyter/notebook/master/notebook/services/api/api.yaml#!/kernelspecs).
+   */
+  export function getSpecs(
+    settings?: ServerConnection.ISettings
+  ): Promise<ISpecModels> {
+    return DefaultKernelSpec.getSpecs(settings);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Object which manages kernel instances for a given base url.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * The manager is responsible for maintaining the state of kernel specs.
+   */
+  export interface IManager extends IDisposable {
+    /**
+     * A signal emitted when the kernel specs change.
+     */
+    specsChanged: ISignal<IManager, ISpecModels>;
+
+    /**
+     * A signal emitted when there is a connection failure.
+     * TODO: figure out the relationship between this and the other connection status signals for kernels.
+     */
+    connectionFailure: ISignal<IManager, ServerConnection.NetworkError>;
+
+    /**
+     * The server settings for the manager.
+     */
+    serverSettings?: ServerConnection.ISettings;
+
+    /**
+     * The kernel spec models.
+     *
+     * #### Notes
+     * The value will be null until the manager is ready.
+     */
+    readonly specs: ISpecModels | null;
+
+    /**
+     * Whether the manager is ready.
+     */
+    readonly isReady: boolean;
+
+    /**
+     * A promise that resolves when the manager is initially ready.
+     */
+    readonly ready: Promise<void>;
+
+    /**
+     * Force a refresh of the specs from the server.
+     *
+     * @returns A promise that resolves when the specs are fetched.
+     *
+     * #### Notes
+     * This is intended to be called only in response to a user action,
+     * since the manager maintains its internal state.
+     */
+    refreshSpecs(): Promise<void>;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernelspec/manager.ts b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/manager.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f270d8f7971b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/manager.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+// Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
+// Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+
+import { Poll } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
+import { ServerConnection } from '../serverconnection';
+import { KernelSpec } from './kernelspec';
+import { ISignal, Signal } from '@phosphor/signaling';
+import { JSONExt } from '@phosphor/coreutils';
+/**
+ * An implementation of a kernel manager.
+ */
+export class KernelSpecManager implements KernelSpec.IManager {
+  /**
+   * Construct a new kernel manager.
+   *
+   * @param options - The default options for kernel.
+   */
+  constructor(options: KernelSpecManager.IOptions = {}) {
+    this.serverSettings =
+      options.serverSettings || ServerConnection.makeSettings();
+
+    // Initialize internal data.
+    this._ready = Promise.all([this.requestSpecs()])
+      .then(_ => undefined)
+      .catch(_ => undefined)
+      .then(() => {
+        if (this.isDisposed) {
+          return;
+        }
+        this._isReady = true;
+      });
+
+    this._pollSpecs = new Poll({
+      auto: false,
+      factory: () => this.requestSpecs(),
+      frequency: {
+        interval: 61 * 1000,
+        backoff: true,
+        max: 300 * 1000
+      },
+      name: `@jupyterlab/services:KernelSpecManager#specs`,
+      standby: options.standby || 'when-hidden'
+    });
+    void this.ready.then(() => {
+      void this._pollSpecs.start();
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The server settings for the manager.
+   */
+  readonly serverSettings: ServerConnection.ISettings;
+
+  /**
+   * Test whether the kernel manager is disposed.
+   */
+  get isDisposed(): boolean {
+    return this._isDisposed;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Test whether the manager is ready.
+   */
+  get isReady(): boolean {
+    return this._isReady;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A promise that fulfills when the manager is ready.
+   */
+  get ready(): Promise<void> {
+    return this._ready;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the most recently fetched kernel specs.
+   */
+  get specs(): KernelSpec.ISpecModels | null {
+    return this._specs;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A signal emitted when the specs change.
+   */
+  get specsChanged(): ISignal<this, KernelSpec.ISpecModels> {
+    return this._specsChanged;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A signal emitted when there is a connection failure.
+   */
+  get connectionFailure(): ISignal<this, Error> {
+    return this._connectionFailure;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Dispose of the resources used by the manager.
+   */
+  dispose(): void {
+    if (this._isDisposed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this._isDisposed = true;
+    this._pollSpecs.dispose();
+    Signal.clearData(this);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Force a refresh of the specs from the server.
+   *
+   * @returns A promise that resolves when the specs are fetched.
+   *
+   * #### Notes
+   * This is intended to be called only in response to a user action,
+   * since the manager maintains its internal state.
+   */
+  async refreshSpecs(): Promise<void> {
+    await this._pollSpecs.refresh();
+    await this._pollSpecs.tick;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Execute a request to the server to poll specs and update state.
+   */
+  protected async requestSpecs(): Promise<void> {
+    const specs = await KernelSpec.getSpecs(this.serverSettings);
+    if (this._isDisposed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!JSONExt.deepEqual(specs, this._specs)) {
+      this._specs = specs;
+      this._specsChanged.emit(specs);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private _isDisposed = false;
+  private _isReady = false;
+  private _connectionFailure = new Signal<this, Error>(this);
+
+  private _pollSpecs: Poll;
+  private _ready: Promise<void>;
+
+  private _specs: KernelSpec.ISpecModels | null = null;
+  private _specsChanged = new Signal<this, KernelSpec.ISpecModels>(this);
+}
+
+/**
+ * The namespace for `KernelManager` class statics.
+ */
+export namespace KernelSpecManager {
+  /**
+   * The options used to initialize a KernelManager.
+   */
+  export interface IOptions {
+    /**
+     * The server settings for the manager.
+     */
+    serverSettings?: ServerConnection.ISettings;
+
+    /**
+     * When the manager stops polling the API. Defaults to `when-hidden`.
+     */
+    standby?: Poll.Standby;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/services/src/kernelspec/validate.ts b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/validate.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..24b2c6f31753
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/services/src/kernelspec/validate.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { KernelSpec } from './kernelspec';
+import { validateProperty } from '../validate';
+
+/**
+ * Validate a server kernelspec model to a client side model.
+ */
+export function validateSpecModel(data: any): KernelSpec.ISpecModel {
+  let spec = data.spec;
+  if (!spec) {
+    throw new Error('Invalid kernel spec');
+  }
+  validateProperty(data, 'name', 'string');
+  validateProperty(data, 'resources', 'object');
+  validateProperty(spec, 'language', 'string');
+  validateProperty(spec, 'display_name', 'string');
+  validateProperty(spec, 'argv', 'array');
+
+  let metadata: any = null;
+  if (spec.hasOwnProperty('metadata')) {
+    validateProperty(spec, 'metadata', 'object');
+    metadata = spec.metadata;
+  }
+
+  let env: any = null;
+  if (spec.hasOwnProperty('env')) {
+    validateProperty(spec, 'env', 'object');
+    env = spec.env;
+  }
+  return {
+    name: data.name,
+    resources: data.resources,
+    language: spec.language,
+    display_name: spec.display_name,
+    argv: spec.argv,
+    metadata,
+    env
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate a `Kernel.ISpecModels` object.
+ */
+export function validateSpecModels(data: any): KernelSpec.ISpecModels {
+  if (!data.hasOwnProperty('kernelspecs')) {
+    throw new Error('No kernelspecs found');
+  }
+  let keys = Object.keys(data.kernelspecs);
+  let kernelspecs: { [key: string]: KernelSpec.ISpecModel } = Object.create(
+    null
+  );
+  let defaultSpec = data.default;
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
+    let ks = data.kernelspecs[keys[i]];
+    try {
+      kernelspecs[keys[i]] = validateSpecModel(ks);
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Remove the errant kernel spec.
+      console.warn(`Removing errant kernel spec: ${keys[i]}`);
+    }
+  }
+  keys = Object.keys(kernelspecs);
+  if (!keys.length) {
+    throw new Error('No valid kernelspecs found');
+  }
+  if (
+    !defaultSpec ||
+    typeof defaultSpec !== 'string' ||
+    !(defaultSpec in kernelspecs)
+  ) {
+    defaultSpec = keys[0];
+    console.warn(`Default kernel not found, using '${keys[0]}'`);
+  }
+  return {
+    default: defaultSpec,
+    kernelspecs
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/services/src/manager.ts b/packages/services/src/manager.ts
index 111e092313f6..960c736c30c1 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/manager.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/manager.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import { Contents, ContentsManager } from './contents';
 
 import { Kernel } from './kernel';
 
+import { KernelSpec, KernelSpecManager } from './kernelspec';
+
 import { Session, SessionManager } from './session';
 
 import { Setting, SettingManager } from './setting';
@@ -47,10 +49,7 @@ export class ServiceManager implements ServiceManager.IManager {
     this.builder = new BuildManager(normalized);
     this.workspaces = new WorkspaceManager(normalized);
     this.nbconvert = new NbConvertManager(normalized);
-
-    this.sessions.specsChanged.connect((_, specs) => {
-      this._specsChanged.emit(specs);
-    });
+    this.kernelspecs = new KernelSpecManager(normalized);
 
     // Relay connection failures from the service managers that poll
     // the server for running sessions.
@@ -68,13 +67,6 @@ export class ServiceManager implements ServiceManager.IManager {
     });
   }
 
-  /**
-   * A signal emitted when the kernel specs change.
-   */
-  get specsChanged(): ISignal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    return this._specsChanged;
-  }
-
   /**
    * A signal emitted when there is a connection failure with the kernel.
    */
@@ -105,13 +97,6 @@ export class ServiceManager implements ServiceManager.IManager {
     this.terminals.dispose();
   }
 
-  /**
-   * The kernel spec models.
-   */
-  get specs(): Kernel.ISpecModels | null {
-    return this.sessions.specs;
-  }
-
   /**
    * The server settings of the manager.
    */
@@ -122,6 +107,11 @@ export class ServiceManager implements ServiceManager.IManager {
    */
   readonly sessions: SessionManager;
 
+  /**
+   * Get the session manager instance.
+   */
+  readonly kernelspecs: KernelSpecManager;
+
   /**
    * Get the setting manager instance.
    */
@@ -172,7 +162,6 @@ export class ServiceManager implements ServiceManager.IManager {
 
   private _isDisposed = false;
   private _readyPromise: Promise<void>;
-  private _specsChanged = new Signal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels>(this);
   private _connectionFailure = new Signal<this, Error>(this);
   private _isReady = false;
 }
@@ -216,19 +205,14 @@ export namespace ServiceManager {
     readonly sessions: Session.IManager;
 
     /**
-     * The setting manager for the manager.
-     */
-    readonly settings: Setting.IManager;
-
-    /**
-     * The kernel spec models.
+     * The session manager for the manager.
      */
-    readonly specs: Kernel.ISpecModels | null;
+    readonly kernelspecs: KernelSpec.IManager;
 
     /**
-     * A signal emitted when the kernel specs change.
+     * The setting manager for the manager.
      */
-    readonly specsChanged: ISignal<IManager, Kernel.ISpecModels>;
+    readonly settings: Setting.IManager;
 
     /**
      * The terminals manager for the manager.
diff --git a/packages/services/src/session/manager.ts b/packages/services/src/session/manager.ts
index 4b187fa23ce6..cf0c1d60521d 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/session/manager.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/session/manager.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ import { JSONExt } from '@phosphor/coreutils';
 
 import { ISignal, Signal } from '@phosphor/signaling';
 
-import { Kernel } from '../kernel';
-
 import { ServerConnection } from '../serverconnection';
 
 import { Session } from './session';
@@ -41,13 +39,13 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
 
     // Initialize internal data.
     this._ready = (async () => {
-      await Promise.all([this.requestRunning(), this.requestSpecs()]);
+      await this.requestRunning();
       if (!this.isDisposed) {
         this._isReady = true;
       }
     })();
 
-    // Start model and specs polling with exponential backoff.
+    // Start model polling with exponential backoff.
     this._pollModels = new Poll({
       auto: false,
       factory: () => this.requestRunning(),
@@ -59,30 +57,11 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
       name: `@jupyterlab/services:SessionManager#models`,
       standby: options.standby || 'when-hidden'
     });
-    this._pollSpecs = new Poll({
-      auto: false,
-      factory: () => this.requestSpecs(),
-      frequency: {
-        interval: 61 * 1000,
-        backoff: true,
-        max: 300 * 1000
-      },
-      name: `@jupyterlab/services:SessionManager#specs`,
-      standby: options.standby || 'when-hidden'
-    });
     void this.ready.then(() => {
       void this._pollModels.start();
-      void this._pollSpecs.start();
     });
   }
 
-  /**
-   * A signal emitted when the kernel specs change.
-   */
-  get specsChanged(): ISignal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels> {
-    return this._specsChanged;
-  }
-
   /**
    * A signal emitted when the running sessions change.
    */
@@ -109,13 +88,6 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
    */
   readonly serverSettings: ServerConnection.ISettings;
 
-  /**
-   * Get the most recently fetched kernel specs.
-   */
-  get specs(): Kernel.ISpecModels | null {
-    return this._specs;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Test whether the manager is ready.
    */
@@ -140,7 +112,6 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
     this._isDisposed = true;
     this._models.length = 0;
     this._pollModels.dispose();
-    this._pollSpecs.dispose();
     Signal.clearData(this);
   }
 
@@ -153,20 +124,6 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
     return iter(this._models);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Force a refresh of the specs from the server.
-   *
-   * @returns A promise that resolves when the specs are fetched.
-   *
-   * #### Notes
-   * This is intended to be called only in response to a user action,
-   * since the manager maintains its internal state.
-   */
-  async refreshSpecs(): Promise<void> {
-    await this._pollSpecs.refresh();
-    await this._pollSpecs.tick;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Force a refresh of the running sessions.
    *
@@ -325,20 +282,6 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Execute a request to the server to poll specs and update state.
-   */
-  protected async requestSpecs(): Promise<void> {
-    const specs = await Kernel.getSpecs(this.serverSettings);
-    if (this.isDisposed) {
-      return;
-    }
-    if (!JSONExt.deepEqual(specs, this._specs)) {
-      this._specs = specs;
-      this._specsChanged.emit(specs);
-    }
-  }
-
   /**
    * Handle a session terminating.
    */
@@ -397,13 +340,10 @@ export class SessionManager implements Session.IManager {
   private _isReady = false;
   private _models: Session.IModel[] = [];
   private _pollModels: Poll;
-  private _pollSpecs: Poll;
   private _ready: Promise<void>;
   private _runningChanged = new Signal<this, Session.IModel[]>(this);
   private _connectionFailure = new Signal<this, Error>(this);
   private _sessions = new Set<Session.ISession>();
-  private _specs: Kernel.ISpecModels | null = null;
-  private _specsChanged = new Signal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels>(this);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/services/src/session/session.ts b/packages/services/src/session/session.ts
index 1373e5ac4525..4d540339aef2 100644
--- a/packages/services/src/session/session.ts
+++ b/packages/services/src/session/session.ts
@@ -367,14 +367,9 @@ export namespace Session {
    *
    * #### Notes
    * The manager is responsible for maintaining the state of running
-   * sessions and the initial fetch of kernel specs.
+   * sessions.
    */
   export interface IManager extends IDisposable {
-    /**
-     * A signal emitted when the kernel specs change.
-     */
-    specsChanged: ISignal<this, Kernel.ISpecModels>;
-
     /**
      * A signal emitted when the running sessions change.
      */
@@ -390,14 +385,6 @@ export namespace Session {
      */
     serverSettings?: ServerConnection.ISettings;
 
-    /**
-     * The cached kernel specs.
-     *
-     * #### Notes
-     * This value will be null until the manager is ready.
-     */
-    readonly specs: Kernel.ISpecModels | null;
-
     /**
      * Test whether the manager is ready.
      */
@@ -472,17 +459,6 @@ export namespace Session {
      */
     shutdownAll(): Promise<void>;
 
-    /**
-     * Force a refresh of the specs from the server.
-     *
-     * @returns A promise that resolves when the specs are fetched.
-     *
-     * #### Notes
-     * This is intended to be called only in response to a user action,
-     * since the manager maintains its internal state.
-     */
-    refreshSpecs(): Promise<void>;
-
     /**
      * Force a refresh of the running sessions.
      *