diff --git a/tests/test_bound_fields.py b/tests/test_bound_fields.py
index e1f6cd88b..f2fac8f0d 100644
--- a/tests/test_bound_fields.py
+++ b/tests/test_bound_fields.py
@@ -38,10 +38,6 @@ class TestSimpleBoundField:
         serializer = ExampleSerializer(data={'text': 'x' * 1000, 'amount': 123})
         serializer.is_valid()
 
-        # TODO Should we add the _errors with ValidationError to the bound_field.errors to get acces to the error code?
-        assert serializer._errors['text'].detail[0].detail == ['Ensure this field has no more than 100 characters.']
-        assert serializer._errors['text'].detail[0].code == 'max_length'
-
         assert serializer['text'].value == 'x' * 1000
         assert serializer['text'].errors == ['Ensure this field has no more than 100 characters.']
         assert serializer['text'].name == 'text'
diff --git a/tests/test_fields.py b/tests/test_fields.py
index 0c1bbfc85..9cb59f7da 100644
--- a/tests/test_fields.py
+++ b/tests/test_fields.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 
 import rest_framework
 from rest_framework import serializers
-from rest_framework.exceptions import ValidationError
 
 
 # Tests for field keyword arguments and core functionality.
@@ -427,13 +426,7 @@ class FieldValues:
         for input_value, expected_failure in get_items(self.invalid_inputs):
             with pytest.raises(serializers.ValidationError) as exc_info:
                 self.field.run_validation(input_value)
-
-            if isinstance(exc_info.value.detail[0], ValidationError):
-                failure = exc_info.value.detail[0].detail
-            else:
-                failure = exc_info.value.detail
-
-            assert failure == expected_failure
+            assert exc_info.value.detail == expected_failure
 
     def test_outputs(self):
         for output_value, expected_output in get_items(self.outputs):
@@ -1400,10 +1393,7 @@ class TestFieldFieldWithName(FieldValues):
 # call into it's regular validation, or require PIL for testing.
 class FailImageValidation(object):
     def to_python(self, value):
-        raise serializers.ValidationError(
-            self.error_messages['invalid_image'],
-            code='invalid_image'
-        )
+        raise serializers.ValidationError(self.error_messages['invalid_image'])
 
 
 class PassImageValidation(object):
diff --git a/tests/test_relations_hyperlink.py b/tests/test_relations_hyperlink.py
index 2bf311d8e..c0642eda2 100644
--- a/tests/test_relations_hyperlink.py
+++ b/tests/test_relations_hyperlink.py
@@ -245,8 +245,6 @@ class HyperlinkedForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         serializer = ForeignKeySourceSerializer(instance, data=data, context={'request': request})
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['Incorrect type. Expected URL string, received int.']})
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].detail, ['Incorrect type. Expected URL string, received int.'])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].code, 'incorrect_type')
 
     def test_reverse_foreign_key_update(self):
         data = {'url': 'http://testserver/foreignkeytarget/2/', 'name': 'target-2', 'sources': ['http://testserver/foreignkeysource/1/', 'http://testserver/foreignkeysource/3/']}
@@ -318,8 +316,6 @@ class HyperlinkedForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         serializer = ForeignKeySourceSerializer(instance, data=data, context={'request': request})
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['This field may not be null.']})
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].detail, ['This field may not be null.'])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].code, 'null')
 
 
 class HyperlinkedNullableForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_relations_pk.py b/tests/test_relations_pk.py
index 49110d2de..169f7d9c5 100644
--- a/tests/test_relations_pk.py
+++ b/tests/test_relations_pk.py
@@ -235,11 +235,7 @@ class PKForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         instance = ForeignKeySource.objects.get(pk=1)
         serializer = ForeignKeySourceSerializer(instance, data=data)
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors,
-                         {'target': ['Incorrect type. Expected pk value, received %s.' % six.text_type.__name__]})
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].detail,
-                         ['Incorrect type. Expected pk value, received %s.' % six.text_type.__name__])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].code, 'incorrect_type')
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['Incorrect type. Expected pk value, received %s.' % six.text_type.__name__]})
 
     def test_reverse_foreign_key_update(self):
         data = {'id': 2, 'name': 'target-2', 'sources': [1, 3]}
@@ -311,8 +307,6 @@ class PKForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         serializer = ForeignKeySourceSerializer(instance, data=data)
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['This field may not be null.']})
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].detail, ['This field may not be null.'])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].code, 'null')
 
     def test_foreign_key_with_unsaved(self):
         source = ForeignKeySource(name='source-unsaved')
diff --git a/tests/test_relations_slug.py b/tests/test_relations_slug.py
index 936546b8d..680aee417 100644
--- a/tests/test_relations_slug.py
+++ b/tests/test_relations_slug.py
@@ -105,8 +105,6 @@ class SlugForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         serializer = ForeignKeySourceSerializer(instance, data=data)
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['Object with name=123 does not exist.']})
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].detail, ['Object with name=123 does not exist.'])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].code, 'does_not_exist')
 
     def test_reverse_foreign_key_update(self):
         data = {'id': 2, 'name': 'target-2', 'sources': ['source-1', 'source-3']}
@@ -179,8 +177,6 @@ class SlugForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
         serializer = ForeignKeySourceSerializer(instance, data=data)
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, {'target': ['This field may not be null.']})
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].detail, ['This field may not be null.'])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer._errors['target'].code, 'null')
 
 
 class SlugNullableForeignKeyTests(TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_serializer.py b/tests/test_serializer.py
index 97a2c642e..741c6ab17 100644
--- a/tests/test_serializer.py
+++ b/tests/test_serializer.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import pytest
 
 from rest_framework import serializers
 from rest_framework.compat import unicode_repr
-from rest_framework.fields import DjangoValidationError
 
 from .utils import MockObject
 
@@ -33,8 +32,6 @@ class TestSerializer:
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
         assert serializer.validated_data == {}
         assert serializer.errors == {'integer': ['This field is required.']}
-        assert serializer._errors['integer'].detail == ['This field is required.']
-        assert serializer._errors['integer'].code == 'required'
 
     def test_partial_validation(self):
         serializer = self.Serializer(data={'char': 'abc'}, partial=True)
@@ -72,10 +69,7 @@ class TestValidateMethod:
             integer = serializers.IntegerField()
 
             def validate(self, attrs):
-                raise serializers.ValidationError(
-                    'Non field error',
-                    code='test'
-                )
+                raise serializers.ValidationError('Non field error')
 
         serializer = ExampleSerializer(data={'char': 'abc', 'integer': 123})
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
@@ -315,27 +309,3 @@ class TestCacheSerializerData:
         pickled = pickle.dumps(serializer.data)
         data = pickle.loads(pickled)
         assert data == {'field1': 'a', 'field2': 'b'}
-
-
-class TestGetValidationErrorDetail:
-    def test_get_validation_error_detail_converts_django_errors(self):
-        exc = DjangoValidationError("Missing field.", code='required')
-        detail = serializers.get_validation_error_detail(exc)
-        assert detail['non_field_errors'][0].detail == ['Missing field.']
-        assert detail['non_field_errors'][0].code == 'required'
-
-
-class TestCapturingDjangoValidationError:
-    def test_django_validation_error_on_a_field_is_converted(self):
-        class ExampleSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
-            field = serializers.CharField()
-
-            def validate_field(self, value):
-                raise DjangoValidationError(
-                    'validation failed'
-                )
-
-        serializer = ExampleSerializer(data={'field': 'a'})
-        assert not serializer.is_valid()
-        assert serializer.errors['field'][0].detail == ['validation failed']
-        assert serializer.errors['field'][0].code == 'invalid'
diff --git a/tests/test_serializer_bulk_update.py b/tests/test_serializer_bulk_update.py
index 2b67ff5c7..8d7240a7b 100644
--- a/tests/test_serializer_bulk_update.py
+++ b/tests/test_serializer_bulk_update.py
@@ -67,25 +67,16 @@ class BulkCreateSerializerTests(TestCase):
                 'author': 'Haruki Murakami'
             }
         ]
-
-        serializer = self.BookSerializer(data=data, many=True)
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.is_valid(), False)
-
         expected_errors = [
             {},
             {},
             {'id': ['A valid integer is required.']}
         ]
 
+        serializer = self.BookSerializer(data=data, many=True)
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.is_valid(), False)
         self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, expected_errors)
 
-        for idx, error in enumerate(serializer._errors):
-            if idx < 2:
-                self.assertEqual(error, {})
-            else:
-                self.assertEqual(error['id'].detail, ['A valid integer is required.'])
-                self.assertEqual(error['id'].code, 'invalid')
-
     def test_invalid_list_datatype(self):
         """
         Data containing list of incorrect data type should return errors.
@@ -96,10 +87,13 @@ class BulkCreateSerializerTests(TestCase):
 
         text_type_string = six.text_type.__name__
         message = 'Invalid data. Expected a dictionary, but got %s.' % text_type_string
+        expected_errors = [
+            {'non_field_errors': [message]},
+            {'non_field_errors': [message]},
+            {'non_field_errors': [message]}
+        ]
 
-        for error in serializer.errors:
-            self.assertEqual(error['non_field_errors'][0].detail, [message])
-            self.assertEqual(error['non_field_errors'][0].code, 'invalid')
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, expected_errors)
 
     def test_invalid_single_datatype(self):
         """
@@ -109,9 +103,9 @@ class BulkCreateSerializerTests(TestCase):
         serializer = self.BookSerializer(data=data, many=True)
         self.assertEqual(serializer.is_valid(), False)
 
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].detail,
-                         ['Expected a list of items but got type "int".'])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].code, 'not_a_list')
+        expected_errors = {'non_field_errors': ['Expected a list of items but got type "int".']}
+
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, expected_errors)
 
     def test_invalid_single_object(self):
         """
@@ -126,7 +120,6 @@ class BulkCreateSerializerTests(TestCase):
         serializer = self.BookSerializer(data=data, many=True)
         self.assertEqual(serializer.is_valid(), False)
 
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].detail,
-                         ['Expected a list of items but got type "dict".'])
+        expected_errors = {'non_field_errors': ['Expected a list of items but got type "dict".']}
 
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].code, 'not_a_list')
+        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors, expected_errors)
diff --git a/tests/test_serializer_lists.py b/tests/test_serializer_lists.py
index 81aed3574..607ddba04 100644
--- a/tests/test_serializer_lists.py
+++ b/tests/test_serializer_lists.py
@@ -280,10 +280,7 @@ class TestListSerializerClass:
     def test_list_serializer_class_validate(self):
         class CustomListSerializer(serializers.ListSerializer):
             def validate(self, attrs):
-                raise serializers.ValidationError(
-                    'Non field error',
-                    code='test'
-                )
+                raise serializers.ValidationError('Non field error')
 
         class TestSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
             class Meta:
diff --git a/tests/test_serializer_nested.py b/tests/test_serializer_nested.py
index 870d66c54..aeb092ee0 100644
--- a/tests/test_serializer_nested.py
+++ b/tests/test_serializer_nested.py
@@ -116,9 +116,6 @@ class TestNestedSerializerWithMany:
         expected_errors = {'not_allow_null': [serializer.error_messages['null']]}
         assert serializer.errors == expected_errors
 
-        assert serializer._errors['not_allow_null'].detail == [serializer.error_messages['null']]
-        assert serializer._errors['not_allow_null'].code == 'null'
-
     def test_run_the_field_validation_even_if_the_field_is_null(self):
         class TestSerializer(self.Serializer):
             validation_was_run = False
@@ -168,11 +165,5 @@ class TestNestedSerializerWithMany:
 
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
 
-        expected_errors = {
-            'not_allow_empty': {'non_field_errors': [serializers.ListSerializer.default_error_messages['empty']]}}
+        expected_errors = {'not_allow_empty': {'non_field_errors': [serializers.ListSerializer.default_error_messages['empty']]}}
         assert serializer.errors == expected_errors
-
-        assert serializer._errors['not_allow_empty'].detail['non_field_errors'][0].detail == \
-            [serializers.ListSerializer.default_error_messages['empty']]
-
-        assert serializer._errors['not_allow_empty'].detail['non_field_errors'][0].code == 'empty_not_allowed'
diff --git a/tests/test_validation.py b/tests/test_validation.py
index eb4b6be64..855ff20e0 100644
--- a/tests/test_validation.py
+++ b/tests/test_validation.py
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ class ShouldValidateModelSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
 
     def validate_renamed(self, value):
         if len(value) < 3:
-            raise serializers.ValidationError('Minimum 3 characters.',
-                                              code='min_length')
+            raise serializers.ValidationError('Minimum 3 characters.')
         return value
 
     class Meta:
@@ -92,9 +91,11 @@ class TestAvoidValidation(TestCase):
     def test_serializer_errors_has_only_invalid_data_error(self):
         serializer = ValidationSerializer(data='invalid data')
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].detail,
-                         ['Invalid data. Expected a dictionary, but got %s.' % type('').__name__])
-        self.assertEqual(serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].code, 'invalid')
+        self.assertDictEqual(serializer.errors, {
+            'non_field_errors': [
+                'Invalid data. Expected a dictionary, but got %s.' % type('').__name__
+            ]
+        })
 
 
 # regression tests for issue: 1493
@@ -122,14 +123,8 @@ class TestMaxValueValidatorValidation(TestCase):
     def test_max_value_validation_serializer_fails(self):
         serializer = ValidationMaxValueValidatorModelSerializer(data={'number_value': 101})
         self.assertFalse(serializer.is_valid())
-
         self.assertDictEqual({'number_value': ['Ensure this value is less than or equal to 100.']}, serializer.errors)
 
-        self.assertEqual(['Ensure this value is less than or equal to 100.'],
-                         serializer._errors['number_value'].detail[0].detail)
-        self.assertEqual(None, serializer._errors['number_value'].code)
-        self.assertEqual('max_value', serializer._errors['number_value'].detail[0].code)
-
     def test_max_value_validation_success(self):
         obj = ValidationMaxValueValidatorModel.objects.create(number_value=100)
         request = factory.patch('/{0}'.format(obj.pk), {'number_value': 98}, format='json')
diff --git a/tests/test_validation_error.py b/tests/test_validation_error.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 7e6513127..000000000
--- a/tests/test_validation_error.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,95 +0,0 @@
-import pytest
-from django.test import TestCase
-
-from rest_framework import serializers, status
-from rest_framework.decorators import api_view
-from rest_framework.exceptions import ValidationError
-from rest_framework.response import Response
-from rest_framework.settings import api_settings
-from rest_framework.test import APIRequestFactory
-from rest_framework.views import APIView
-
-factory = APIRequestFactory()
-
-
-class ExampleSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
-    char = serializers.CharField()
-    integer = serializers.IntegerField()
-
-
-class ErrorView(APIView):
-    def get(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        ExampleSerializer(data={}).is_valid(raise_exception=True)
-
-
-@api_view(['GET'])
-def error_view(request):
-    ExampleSerializer(data={}).is_valid(raise_exception=True)
-
-
-class TestValidationErrorWithCode(TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.DEFAULT_HANDLER = api_settings.EXCEPTION_HANDLER
-
-        def exception_handler(exc, request):
-            if not exc.code:
-                errors = {
-                    field_name: {
-                        'code': e.code,
-                        'message': e.detail
-                    } for field_name, e in exc.detail.items()
-                }
-            else:
-                errors = {
-                    'code': exc.code,
-                    'detail': exc.detail
-                }
-            return Response(errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
-
-        api_settings.EXCEPTION_HANDLER = exception_handler
-
-        self.expected_response_data = {
-            'char': {
-                'message': ['This field is required.'],
-                'code': 'required',
-            },
-            'integer': {
-                'message': ['This field is required.'],
-                'code': 'required'
-            },
-        }
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        api_settings.EXCEPTION_HANDLER = self.DEFAULT_HANDLER
-
-    def test_validation_error_requires_no_code_for_structured_errors(self):
-        """
-        ValidationError can hold a list or dictionary of simple errors, in
-        which case the code is no longer meaningful and should not be
-        specified.
-        """
-        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
-            serializers.ValidationError([ValidationError("test-detail", "test-code")], code='min_value')
-
-        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
-            serializers.ValidationError({}, code='min_value')
-
-    def test_validation_error_stores_error_code(self):
-        exception = serializers.ValidationError("", code='min_value')
-        assert exception.code == 'min_value'
-
-    def test_class_based_view_exception_handler(self):
-        view = ErrorView.as_view()
-
-        request = factory.get('/', content_type='application/json')
-        response = view(request)
-        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
-        self.assertEqual(response.data, self.expected_response_data)
-
-    def test_function_based_view_exception_handler(self):
-        view = error_view
-
-        request = factory.get('/', content_type='application/json')
-        response = view(request)
-        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
-        self.assertEqual(response.data, self.expected_response_data)
diff --git a/tests/test_validators.py b/tests/test_validators.py
index ff28908c3..acaaf5743 100644
--- a/tests/test_validators.py
+++ b/tests/test_validators.py
@@ -47,15 +47,9 @@ class TestUniquenessValidation(TestCase):
     def test_is_not_unique(self):
         data = {'username': 'existing'}
         serializer = UniquenessSerializer(data=data)
-
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
-
         assert serializer.errors == {'username': ['UniquenessModel with this username already exists.']}
 
-        assert serializer._errors['username'].code is None
-        assert serializer._errors['username'].detail[0].code == 'unique'
-        assert serializer._errors['username'].detail[0].detail == ['UniquenessModel with this username already exists.']
-
     def test_is_unique(self):
         data = {'username': 'other'}
         serializer = UniquenessSerializer(data=data)
@@ -156,9 +150,11 @@ class TestUniquenessTogetherValidation(TestCase):
         data = {'race_name': 'example', 'position': 2}
         serializer = UniquenessTogetherSerializer(data=data)
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
-        assert serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].code == 'unique'
-        assert serializer.errors['non_field_errors'][0].detail == [
-            'The fields race_name, position must make a unique set.']
+        assert serializer.errors == {
+            'non_field_errors': [
+                'The fields race_name, position must make a unique set.'
+            ]
+        }
 
     def test_is_unique_together(self):
         """
@@ -193,8 +189,9 @@ class TestUniquenessTogetherValidation(TestCase):
         data = {'position': 2}
         serializer = UniquenessTogetherSerializer(data=data, partial=True)
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
-        assert serializer.errors['race_name'][0].code == 'required'
-        assert serializer.errors['race_name'][0].detail == ['This field is required.']
+        assert serializer.errors == {
+            'race_name': ['This field is required.']
+        }
 
     def test_ignore_excluded_fields(self):
         """
@@ -281,8 +278,9 @@ class TestUniquenessForDateValidation(TestCase):
         data = {'slug': 'existing', 'published': '2000-01-01'}
         serializer = UniqueForDateSerializer(data=data)
         assert not serializer.is_valid()
-        assert serializer.errors['slug'][0].code == 'unique'
-        assert serializer.errors['slug'][0].detail == ['This field must be unique for the "published" date.']
+        assert serializer.errors == {
+            'slug': ['This field must be unique for the "published" date.']
+        }
 
     def test_is_unique_for_date(self):
         """