diff --git a/arboretum/common/iam_ibm_utils.py b/arboretum/common/iam_ibm_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c1fc19fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/arboretum/common/iam_ibm_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# -*- mode:python; coding:utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright (c) 2020 IBM Corp. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+"""Utility module for IBM Cloud IAM."""
+
+from arboretum.common.ibm_constants import (
+    IAM_API_KEY_GRANT_TYPE, IAM_TOKEN_URL
+)
+
+import requests
+
+
+def get_tokens(api_key):
+    """
+    Get IBM Cloud access token and refresh token based on api_key.
+
+    See: https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/iam-identity-token-api
+
+    :param str api_key: the IBM Cloud API key for an IBM Cloud account
+
+    :returns: a tuple containing the access token and the refresh token
+    """
+    headers = {
+        'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
+        'Accept': 'application/json'
+    }
+    resp = requests.post(
+        IAM_TOKEN_URL,
+        headers=headers,
+        auth=('bx', 'bx'),
+        data=f'grant_type={IAM_API_KEY_GRANT_TYPE}&apikey={api_key}'
+    )
+    resp.raise_for_status()
+    tokens = resp.json()
+    return tokens['access_token'], tokens['refresh_token']
diff --git a/arboretum/common/ibm_constants.py b/arboretum/common/ibm_constants.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9015273b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/arboretum/common/ibm_constants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# -*- mode:python; coding:utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright (c) 2020 IBM Corp. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+"""Common IBM constants."""
+
+# IBM Cloud token retrieval URL
+IAM_TOKEN_URL = 'https://iam.cloud.ibm.com/identity/token'
+
+# IAM token API KEY grant type
+IAM_API_KEY_GRANT_TYPE = 'urn:ibm:params:oauth:grant-type:apikey'
diff --git a/test/test_iam_ibm_utils.py b/test/test_iam_ibm_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0a5579b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_iam_ibm_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# -*- mode:python; coding:utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright (c) 2020 IBM Corp. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+"""Arboretum IBM Cloud IAM common utility module tests."""
+
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from arboretum.common.iam_ibm_utils import get_tokens
+from arboretum.common.ibm_constants import IAM_API_KEY_GRANT_TYPE
+
+from requests import HTTPError
+
+
+class IAMIBMTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Arboretum IBM Cloud IAM common utility tests."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """Initialize supporting test objects before each test."""
+        self.post_patcher = patch('requests.post')
+        self.mock_post = self.post_patcher.start()
+        mock_resp = MagicMock()
+        self.mock_raise_for_status = MagicMock()
+        self.mock_json = MagicMock(
+            return_value={
+                'access_token': 'foo', 'refresh_token': 'bar'
+            }
+        )
+        mock_resp.raise_for_status = self.mock_raise_for_status
+        mock_resp.json = self.mock_json
+        self.mock_post.return_value = mock_resp
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        """Clean up and house keeping after each test."""
+        self.post_patcher.stop()
+
+    def test_get_tokens_success(self):
+        """Ensure tokens are returned as expected."""
+        self.assertEqual(get_tokens('meh_api_key'), ('foo', 'bar'))
+        self.mock_post.assert_called_once_with(
+            'https://iam.cloud.ibm.com/identity/token',
+            headers={
+                'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
+                'Accept': 'application/json'
+            },
+            auth=('bx', 'bx'),
+            data=f'grant_type={IAM_API_KEY_GRANT_TYPE}&apikey=meh_api_key'
+        )
+        self.mock_raise_for_status.assert_called_once()
+        self.mock_json.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_get_tokens_failure(self):
+        """Ensure tokens are not returned and an error is raised."""
+        self.mock_raise_for_status.side_effect = HTTPError('boom!')
+        with self.assertRaises(HTTPError) as cm:
+            self.assertIsNone(get_tokens('meh_api_key'))
+            self.mock_post.assert_called_once_with(
+                'https://iam.cloud.ibm.com/identity/token',
+                headers={
+                    'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
+                    'Accept': 'application/json'
+                },
+                auth=('bx', 'bx'),
+                data=f'grant_type={IAM_API_KEY_GRANT_TYPE}&apikey=meh_api_key'
+            )
+            self.mock_raise_for_status.assert_called_once()
+            self.mock_json.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), 'boom!')