diff --git a/bin/testParams.py b/bin/testParams.py
index 806d5c07..68666c6d 100644
--- a/bin/testParams.py
+++ b/bin/testParams.py
@@ -3,25 +3,55 @@
 # custom parameters specified will be printed. If validation fails, an error message specifying cause of validation
 # error will be printed.
 
-import sys
+import argparse
 
 import pykwalify.core
 
 from radiomics import getParameterValidationFiles
 
-def main(paramsFile):
-  schemaFile, schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles()
 
-  c = pykwalify.core.Core(source_file=paramsFile, schema_files=[schemaFile], extensions=[schemaFuncs])
+def main(paramsFile, is_model=False):
+  if is_model:
+    validate_model_file(paramsFile)
+  else:
+    validate_customization(paramsFile)
+
+
+def validate_model_file(model_file):
+  schema_data, schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles(is_model_validation=True)
+  c = pykwalify.core.Core(source_file=model_file, schema_data=schema_data, extensions=[schemaFuncs])
+
+  try:
+    params = c.validate()
+    print('Model validation successfull!\n\n'
+          '###Model Type###\n%s\n'
+          % (params['model']['name']))
+  except pykwalify.core.SchemaError as e:
+    print('Parameter validation failed!\n%s' % e.msg)
+
+
+def validate_customization(parameter_file):
+  schema_data, schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles()
+  c = pykwalify.core.Core(source_file=parameter_file, schema_data=schema_data, extensions=[schemaFuncs])
+
   try:
     params = c.validate()
     print('Parameter validation successfull!\n\n'
           '###Enabled Features###\n%s\n'
           '###Enabled Image Types###\n%s\n'
-          '###Settings###\n%s' % (params['featureClass'], params['imageType'], params['setting']))
-  except Exception as e:
-    print('Parameter validation failed!\n%s' % e.message)
+          '###Settings###\n%s' % (params['featureClass'], params['imageType'], params['setting'])
+          )
+  except pykwalify.core.SchemaError as e:
+    print('Parameter validation failed!\n%s' % e.msg)
+
 
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+  parser.add_argument('parameter_file', help='File representing the yaml or json structured configuration file to be '
+                                             'tested')
+  parser.add_argument('--model', '-m', action='store_true',
+                      help='If this argument is specified, the configuration file is treated as a PyRadiomics Model, '
+                           'otherwise, it is treated as an extraction parameter file')
 
-if __name__ == '__main__' and len(sys.argv) > 1:
-    main(sys.argv[1])
+  args = parser.parse_args()
+  main(args.parameter_file, args.model)
diff --git a/examples/exampleModels/exampleModel.yaml b/examples/exampleModels/exampleModel.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7a1b0c3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/exampleModels/exampleModel.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# This is an example of how a PyRadiomics Model looks like.
+# It consists of 2 main parts: "extraction" and "model"
+#
+# "extraction": this part defines the settings PyRadiomics needs to extract the required features for the input.
+# A model can incorporate features extracted from different images (e.g. multiple time points, or different MR
+# sequences). For each image, a customized extraction may be defined by providing the image name as a key, and the
+# customization as a value. This customization value must adhere to the same rules as a parameter file.
+# In addition, extraction parameters that are common to all input images can be defined under "general". Be aware,
+# "general" is therefore not allowed as an image name.
+# If an image name is provided in the model, but not included in the extraction settings, no additional customization
+# is applied for that image (just the general settings, if present)
+#
+# "model": this part provides all needed information to build the model. In this case, a simple linear regression model
+# is shown. Both the "name" key (identifying the model type) and "parameters" key (providing model specific parameters)
+# are required. What kind of parameters are possible/required depends on the model. In this case, only the intercept of
+# the model and the betas (slopes) of the included features are required.
+
+extraction:
+  general:
+    setting:
+      binWidth: 25
+    imageType:
+      Original: {}
+
+  image1:
+    featureClass:
+      glcm:
+        - Dissimilarity
+
+  image2:
+    featureClass:
+      firstorder:
+        - Mean
+
+model:
+  name: linearregression
+  parameters:
+    intercept: 0.334
+    betas:
+      image1_original_glcm_Dissimilarity: 0.1
+      image2_original_firstorder_Mean: 0.3
diff --git a/radiomics/__init__.py b/radiomics/__init__.py
index 106c33ec..d040076a 100644
--- a/radiomics/__init__.py
+++ b/radiomics/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import tempfile
 
 import numpy  # noqa: F401
+from pykwalify.compat import yaml
 from six.moves import urllib
 
 from . import imageoperations
@@ -184,17 +185,36 @@ def getTestCase(testCase, dataDirectory=None):
     return None, None
 
 
-def getParameterValidationFiles():
+def getParameterValidationFiles(is_model_validation=False):
   """
   Returns file locations for the parameter schema and custom validation functions, which are needed when validating
   a parameter file using ``PyKwalify.core``.
-  This functions returns a tuple with the file location of the schema as first and python script with custom validation
-  functions as second element.
+  This functions returns a tuple with a dictionary representing the schema and the file location of a python script
+  containing the custom validation functions.
   """
   dataDir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'schemas'))
   schemaFile = os.path.join(dataDir, 'paramSchema.yaml')
+  modelFile = os.path.join(dataDir, 'modelSchema.yaml')
   schemaFuncs = os.path.join(dataDir, 'schemaFuncs.py')
-  return schemaFile, schemaFuncs
+
+  if not (os.path.isfile(schemaFile) and os.path.isfile(schemaFuncs)):
+    raise IOError('Customization Validation Files not Found!')
+
+  with open(schemaFile) as schema:
+    schema_data = yaml.load(schema)
+
+  if is_model_validation:
+    if not os.path.isfile(modelFile):
+      raise IOError('Model Validation File not Found!')
+
+    # Add the additional validation requirements of the model schema
+    with open(modelFile) as model_schema:
+      schema_data.update(yaml.load(model_schema))
+  else:
+    # Add the include to ensure that the customization_schema is applied
+    schema_data.update({'include': 'customization_schema'})
+
+  return schema_data, schemaFuncs
 
 
 class _DummyProgressReporter(object):
diff --git a/radiomics/featureextractor.py b/radiomics/featureextractor.py
index a0a123ca..5f1cc8d3 100644
--- a/radiomics/featureextractor.py
+++ b/radiomics/featureextractor.py
@@ -148,9 +148,9 @@ def _applyParams(self, paramsFile=None, paramsDict=None):
       # No handler available for either pykwalify or root logger, provide first radiomics handler (outputs to stderr)
       pykwalify.core.log.addHandler(logging.getLogger('radiomics').handlers[0])
 
-    schemaFile, schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles()
+    schema_data, schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles()
     c = pykwalify.core.Core(source_file=paramsFile, source_data=paramsDict,
-                            schema_files=[schemaFile], extensions=[schemaFuncs])
+                            schema_data=schema_data, extensions=[schemaFuncs])
     params = c.validate()
     self.logger.debug('Parameters parsed, input is valid.')
 
diff --git a/radiomics/schemas/modelSchema.yaml b/radiomics/schemas/modelSchema.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ed9fd1e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/radiomics/schemas/modelSchema.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#  include: customization_schema
+name: model_schema
+type: map
+mapping:
+  extraction:
+    type: map
+    mapping:
+      regex;(.+):
+        include: customization_schema
+  model:
+    type: map
+    required: true
+    mapping:
+      name:
+        type: str
+        required: true
+      parameters:
+        type: map
+        required: true
+        mapping:
+          regex;(.+):
+            type: any
diff --git a/radiomics/schemas/paramSchema.yaml b/radiomics/schemas/paramSchema.yaml
index c309fd7e..6b951bfa 100644
--- a/radiomics/schemas/paramSchema.yaml
+++ b/radiomics/schemas/paramSchema.yaml
@@ -1,153 +1,154 @@
 # Parameters schema
-name: Parameter schema
-desc: This schema defines what arguments may be present in the parameters file that can be passed to the pyradiomics package.
-type: map
-mapping:
-  setting: &settings
-    type: map
-    mapping:
-      minimumROIDimensions:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 1
-          max: 3
-      minimumROISize:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      geometryTolerance:
-        type: float
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      correctMask:
-        type: bool
-      additionalInfo:
-        type: bool
-      label:
-        type: int
-      binWidth:
-        type: float
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      binCount:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      normalize:
-        type: bool
-      normalizeScale:
-        type: float
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      removeOutliers:
-        type: float
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      resampledPixelSpacing:
-        seq:
-          - type: float
-            range:
-              min: 0
-      interpolator:
-        type: any
-        func: checkInterpolator
-      padDistance:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 0
-      distances:
-        seq:
-          - type: int
-            range:
-              min-ex: 0
-      force2D:
-        type: bool
-      force2Ddimension:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 0
-          max: 2
-      resegmentRange:
-        seq:
-          - type: float
-      preCrop:
-        type: bool
-      sigma:
-        seq:
-          - type: float
-            range:
-              min-ex: 0
-      start_level:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 0
-      level:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      wavelet:
-        type: str
-        func: checkWavelet
-      gradientUseSpacing:
-        type: bool
-      lbp2DRadius:
-        type: float
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      lbp2DSamples:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 1
-      lbp2DMethod:
-        type: str
-        enum: ['default', 'ror', 'uniform', 'var']
-      lbp3DLevels:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 1
-      lbp3DIcosphereRadius:
-        type: float
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      lbp3DIcosphereSubdivision:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 0
-      voxelArrayShift:
-        type: int
-      symmetricalGLCM:
-        type: bool
-      weightingNorm:
-        type: any
-        func: checkWeighting
-      gldm_a:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min: 0
+schema;customization_schema:
+  name: Parameter schema
+  desc: This schema defines what arguments may be present in the parameters file that can be passed to the pyradiomics package.
+  type: map
+  mapping:
+    setting: &settings
+      type: map
+      mapping:
+        minimumROIDimensions:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 1
+            max: 3
+        minimumROISize:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        geometryTolerance:
+          type: float
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        correctMask:
+          type: bool
+        additionalInfo:
+          type: bool
+        label:
+          type: int
+        binWidth:
+          type: float
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        binCount:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        normalize:
+          type: bool
+        normalizeScale:
+          type: float
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        removeOutliers:
+          type: float
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        resampledPixelSpacing:
+          seq:
+            - type: float
+              range:
+                min: 0
+        interpolator:
+          type: any
+          func: checkInterpolator
+        padDistance:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 0
+        distances:
+          seq:
+            - type: int
+              range:
+                min-ex: 0
+        force2D:
+          type: bool
+        force2Ddimension:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 0
+            max: 2
+        resegmentRange:
+          seq:
+            - type: float
+        preCrop:
+          type: bool
+        sigma:
+          seq:
+            - type: float
+              range:
+                min-ex: 0
+        start_level:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 0
+        level:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        wavelet:
+          type: str
+          func: checkWavelet
+        gradientUseSpacing:
+          type: bool
+        lbp2DRadius:
+          type: float
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        lbp2DSamples:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 1
+        lbp2DMethod:
+          type: str
+          enum: ['default', 'ror', 'uniform', 'var']
+        lbp3DLevels:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 1
+        lbp3DIcosphereRadius:
+          type: float
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        lbp3DIcosphereSubdivision:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 0
+        voxelArrayShift:
+          type: int
+        symmetricalGLCM:
+          type: bool
+        weightingNorm:
+          type: any
+          func: checkWeighting
+        gldm_a:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min: 0
 
-  voxelSetting:
-    type: map
-    mapping:
-      kernelRadius:
-        type: int
-        range:
-          min-ex: 0
-      maskedKernel:
-        type: bool
-      initValue:
-        type: float
+    voxelSetting:
+      type: map
+      mapping:
+        kernelRadius:
+          type: int
+          range:
+            min-ex: 0
+        maskedKernel:
+          type: bool
+        initValue:
+          type: float
 
-  featureClass:
-    type: map
-    func: checkFeatureClass
-    matching-rule: 'any'
-    mapping:
-      regex;(.+):
-        type: any
+    featureClass:
+      type: map
+      func: checkFeatureClass
+      matching-rule: 'any'
+      mapping:
+        regex;(.+):
+          type: any
 
-  imageType:
-    type: map
-    func: checkImageType
-    matching-rule: 'any'
-    mapping:
-       regex;(.+): *settings
+    imageType:
+      type: map
+      func: checkImageType
+      matching-rule: 'any'
+      mapping:
+         regex;(.+): *settings
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 1d09b540..f7ed2993 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 numpy>=1.9.2
 SimpleITK>=0.9.1
 PyWavelets>=0.4.0
-pykwalify>=1.6.0
+pykwalify!=1.6.0
 six>=1.10.0
diff --git a/tests/test_exampleSettings.py b/tests/test_exampleSettings.py
index eba2c226..631a8837 100644
--- a/tests/test_exampleSettings.py
+++ b/tests/test_exampleSettings.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def exampleSettings_name_func(testcase_func, param_num, param):
 
 class TestExampleSettings:
   def __init__(self):
-    self.schemaFile, self.schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles()
+    self.schema_data, self.schemaFuncs = getParameterValidationFiles()
 
   def generateScenarios():
     dataDir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), '..', 'examples', 'exampleSettings')
@@ -29,7 +29,5 @@ def generateScenarios():
   @parameterized.expand(generateScenarios(), testcase_func_name=exampleSettings_name_func)
   def test_scenarios(self, settingsFile):
 
-    assert os.path.isfile(self.schemaFile)
-    assert os.path.isfile(self.schemaFuncs)
-    c = pykwalify.core.Core(source_file=settingsFile, schema_files=[self.schemaFile], extensions=[self.schemaFuncs])
+    c = pykwalify.core.Core(source_file=settingsFile, schema_data=self.schema_data, extensions=[self.schemaFuncs])
     c.validate()