diff --git a/src/asfquart/auth.py b/src/asfquart/auth.py
index 7380cfb..fd7423b 100644
--- a/src/asfquart/auth.py
+++ b/src/asfquart/auth.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def requirements_to_iter(args: typing.Any):
         args = [args]
     # Test that each requirement is an allowed one (belongs to the Requirements class)
     for req in args:
-        if not callable(req) or req != getattr(Requirements, req.__name__, None):
+        if not callable(req) or not issubclass(req.__self__, Requirements):
             raise TypeError(
                 f"Authentication requirement {req} is not valid. Must belong to the asfquart.auth.Requirements class."
             )
diff --git a/tests/auth.py b/tests/auth.py
index 341eb4d..9d6e9c3 100644
--- a/tests/auth.py
+++ b/tests/auth.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
 import time
+import re
 
 import pytest
 import quart
@@ -8,6 +9,39 @@
 import asfquart.auth
 from asfquart.auth import Requirements as R
 
+class MyR(R):
+    """Test auth methods in a Requirements subclass"""
+
+    E_ALWAYS_FALSE = "Always False"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def true(cls, _session):
+        return True, ""
+
+    @classmethod
+    def false(cls, _session):
+        return False, cls.E_ALWAYS_FALSE
+
+class LoneR():
+    """Test auth methods in an independent class"""
+
+    E_ALWAYS_FALSE = "Always False"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def true(cls, _session):
+        return True, ""
+
+    @classmethod
+    def false(cls, _session):
+        return False, cls.E_ALWAYS_FALSE
+
+def _string_to_re(s):
+    """convert arbitrary string to fullmatch regex"""
+    return re.escape(s) + '$'
+
+def _string_to_re(s):
+    """convert arbitrary string to fullmatch regex"""
+    return re.escape(s) + '$'
 
 @pytest.mark.auth
 async def test_auth_basics():
@@ -20,10 +54,8 @@ async def requires_session():
 
     # Test with no session, should fail
     quart.session = {}
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(R.E_NOT_LOGGED_IN)):
         await requires_session()
-    except asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed as e:
-        assert e.message is R.E_NOT_LOGGED_IN
 
     # Test with session, should work.
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar"}}
@@ -53,17 +85,13 @@ async def requires_mfa():
 
     # Test MFA with no session, should fail exactly like auth_required
     quart.session = {}
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(R.E_NOT_LOGGED_IN)):
         await requires_mfa()
-    except asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed as e:
-        assert e.message is R.E_NOT_LOGGED_IN
 
     # Test with session without MFA, should fail.
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar"}}
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(R.E_NO_MFA)):
         await requires_mfa()
-    except asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed as e:
-        assert e.message is R.E_NO_MFA
 
     # Test with session with MFA, should work.
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar", "mfa": True}}
@@ -95,27 +123,21 @@ async def test_member_or_chair_auth():
 
     # Test role with no session, should fail exactly like auth_required
     quart.session = {}
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(R.E_NOT_LOGGED_IN)):
         await test_committer_auth()
-    except asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed as e:
-        assert e.message is R.E_NOT_LOGGED_IN
 
     # Test with session , should work
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar"}}
     await test_committer_auth()
 
     # Test with a role we don't have, should fail
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(R.E_NOT_MEMBER)):
         await test_member_auth()
-    except asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed as e:
-        assert e.message is R.E_NOT_MEMBER
 
     # Test with for both member and chair, while only being member. should pass on member check, fail on chair
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar", "isMember": True}}
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(R.E_NOT_CHAIR)):
         await test_member_and_chair_auth()
-    except asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed as e:
-        assert e.message is R.E_NOT_CHAIR
 
     # Test for either member of chair, should work as we have chair (but not member)
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar", "isChair": True}}
@@ -124,3 +146,36 @@ async def test_member_or_chair_auth():
     # Test for both member and chair, when we are both. should work.
     quart.session = {app.app_id: {"uts": time.time(), "foo": "bar", "isMember": True, "isChair": True}}
     await test_member_and_chair_auth()
+
+@pytest.mark.auth
+async def test_extended_auth():
+    """Extended auth tests"""
+
+    @asfquart.auth.require(MyR.true)
+    async def test_true():
+        pass
+
+    @asfquart.auth.require(MyR.false)
+    async def test_false():
+        pass
+
+    # Should always work
+    await test_true()
+
+    with pytest.raises(asfquart.auth.AuthenticationFailed, match=_string_to_re(MyR.E_ALWAYS_FALSE)):
+        await test_false()
+
+@pytest.mark.auth
+async def test_lone_auth():
+    """Extended auth tests using independent class"""
+
+    # cannot use independent class as a decorator
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        @asfquart.auth.require(LoneR.true)
+        async def test_true():
+            pass
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        @asfquart.auth.require(LoneR.false)
+        async def test_false():
+            pass