diff --git a/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py b/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py
index e00be92..aa3a935 100644
--- a/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py
+++ b/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 )
 from cryptography.hazmat.backends.interfaces import (
     CMACBackend, CipherBackend, DSABackend, HMACBackend, HashBackend,
-    PBKDF2HMACBackend, RSABackend
+    PBKDF2HMACBackend, RSABackend, TraditionalOpenSSLSerializationBackend
 )
 from cryptography.hazmat.bindings.openssl.binding import Binding
 from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import hashes, interfaces
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 )
 
 
+_MemoryBIO = collections.namedtuple("_MemoryBIO", ["bio", "char_ptr"])
 _OpenSSLError = collections.namedtuple("_OpenSSLError",
                                        ["code", "lib", "func", "reason"])
 
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@
 @utils.register_interface(HMACBackend)
 @utils.register_interface(PBKDF2HMACBackend)
 @utils.register_interface(RSABackend)
+@utils.register_interface(TraditionalOpenSSLSerializationBackend)
 class Backend(object):
     """
     OpenSSL API binding interfaces.
@@ -371,6 +373,32 @@
 
         return evp_pkey
 
+    def _bytes_to_bio(self, data):
+        """
+        Return a _MemoryBIO namedtuple of (BIO, char*).
+
+        The char* is the storage for the BIO and it must stay alive until the
+        BIO is finished with.
+        """
+        data_char_p = backend._ffi.new("char[]", data)
+        bio = backend._lib.BIO_new_mem_buf(
+            data_char_p, len(data)
+        )
+        assert bio != self._ffi.NULL
+
+        return _MemoryBIO(self._ffi.gc(bio, self._lib.BIO_free), data_char_p)
+
+    def _evp_pkey_to_private_key(self, evp_pkey):
+        type = evp_pkey.type
+
+        if type == self._lib.EVP_PKEY_RSA:
+            rsa_cdata = self._lib.EVP_PKEY_get1_RSA(evp_pkey)
+            assert rsa_cdata != self._ffi.NULL
+            rsa_cdata = self._ffi.gc(rsa_cdata, self._lib.RSA_free)
+            return self._rsa_cdata_to_private_key(rsa_cdata)
+        else:
+            raise UnsupportedAlgorithm("Unsupported key type.")
+
     def _rsa_cdata_to_private_key(self, cdata):
         return rsa.RSAPrivateKey(
             p=self._bn_to_int(cdata.p),
@@ -383,6 +411,34 @@
             modulus=self._bn_to_int(cdata.n),
         )
 
+    def _pem_password_cb(self, password):
+        """
+        Generate a pem_password_cb that returns password
+
+        typedef int pem_password_cb(char *buf, int size,
+                                    int rwflag, void *userdata);
+
+        suitable for decrypting PKCS8 files and so on
+        """
+
+        def pem_password_cb(buf, size, writing, userdata):
+            pem_password_cb.called += 1
+
+            if not password or len(password) >= size:
+                return 0
+            else:
+                pw_buf = self._ffi.buffer(buf, size)
+                pw_buf[:len(password)] = password
+                return len(password)
+
+        pem_password_cb.called = 0
+
+        return (
+            self._ffi.callback("int (char *, int, int, void *)",
+                               pem_password_cb),
+            pem_password_cb
+        )
+
     def _rsa_cdata_from_private_key(self, private_key):
         # Does not GC the RSA cdata. You *must* make sure it's freed
         # correctly yourself!
@@ -656,6 +712,70 @@
     def create_cmac_ctx(self, algorithm):
         return _CMACContext(self, algorithm)
 
+    def load_traditional_openssl_pem_private_key(self, data, password):
+        mem_bio = self._bytes_to_bio(data)
+
+        password_callback, password_func = self._pem_password_cb(password)
+
+        evp_pkey = self._lib.PEM_read_bio_PrivateKey(
+            mem_bio.bio,
+            self._ffi.NULL,
+            password_callback,
+            self._ffi.NULL
+        )
+
+        if evp_pkey == self._ffi.NULL:
+            errors = self._consume_errors()
+            if not errors:
+                raise ValueError("Could not unserialize key data.")
+
+            if errors[0][1:] == (
+                self._lib.ERR_LIB_PEM,
+                self._lib.PEM_F_PEM_DO_HEADER,
+                self._lib.PEM_R_BAD_PASSWORD_READ
+            ):
+                assert not password
+                raise TypeError(
+                    "Password was not given but private key is encrypted.")
+
+            elif errors[0][1:] == (
+                self._lib.ERR_LIB_EVP,
+                self._lib.EVP_F_EVP_DECRYPTFINAL_EX,
+                self._lib.EVP_R_BAD_DECRYPT
+            ):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "Bad decrypt. Incorrect password?"
+                )
+
+            elif errors[0][1:] == (
+                self._lib.ERR_LIB_PEM,
+                self._lib.PEM_F_PEM_GET_EVP_CIPHER_INFO,
+                self._lib.PEM_R_UNSUPPORTED_ENCRYPTION
+            ):
+                raise UnsupportedAlgorithm(
+                    "PEM data is encrypted with an unsupported cipher")
+
+            else:
+                assert errors[0][1] in (
+                    self._lib.ERR_LIB_EVP,
+                    self._lib.ERR_LIB_PEM,
+                    self._lib.ERR_LIB_ASN1,
+                )
+                raise ValueError("Could not unserialize key data.")
+
+        evp_pkey = self._ffi.gc(evp_pkey, self._lib.EVP_PKEY_free)
+
+        if password is not None and password_func.called == 0:
+            raise TypeError(
+                "Password was given but private key is not encrypted.")
+
+        assert (
+            (password is not None and password_func.called == 1) or
+            password is None
+        )
+
+        return self._evp_pkey_to_private_key(evp_pkey)
+
 
 class GetCipherByName(object):
     def __init__(self, fmt):
diff --git a/cryptography/hazmat/primitives/serialization.py b/cryptography/hazmat/primitives/serialization.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3893750
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cryptography/hazmat/primitives/serialization.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# 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.
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+
+def load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(data, password, backend):
+    return backend.load_traditional_openssl_pem_private_key(
+        data, password
+    )
diff --git a/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/index.rst b/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/index.rst
index ca048d1..047f9cb 100644
--- a/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/index.rst
+++ b/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/index.rst
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@
     dsa
     rsa
     padding
+    serialization
diff --git a/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/serialization.rst b/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/serialization.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d079b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/hazmat/primitives/asymmetric/serialization.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+.. hazmat::
+
+Key Serialization
+=================
+
+.. currentmodule:: cryptography.hazmat.primitives.serialization
+
+There are several common schemes for serializing asymmetric private and public
+keys to bytes. They generally support encryption of private keys and additional
+key metadata.
+
+
+Traditional OpenSSL Format
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The "traditional" PKCS #1 based serialization format used by OpenSSL.
+It supports password based symmetric key encryption. Commonly found in
+OpenSSL based TLS applications. It is usually found in PEM format with a
+header that mentions the type of the serialized key. e.g.
+``-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----``.
+
+.. function:: load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(data, password, backend)
+
+    .. versionadded:: 0.4
+
+    Deserialize a private key from PEM encoded data to one of the supported
+    asymmetric private key types.
+
+    :param bytes data: The PEM encoded key data.
+
+    :param bytes password: The password to use to decrypt the data. Should
+        be ``None`` if the private key is not encrypted.
+    :param backend: A
+        :class:`~cryptography.hazmat.backends.interfaces.TraditionalOpenSSLSerializationBackend`
+        provider.
+
+    :returns: A new instance of a private key.
+
+    :raises ValueError: If the PEM data could not be decrypted or if its
+        structure could not be decoded successfully.
+
+    :raises TypeError: If a ``password`` was given and the private key was
+        not encrypted. Or if the key was encrypted but no
+        password was supplied.
+
+    :raises UnsupportedAlgorithm: If the serialized key is of a type that
+        is not supported by the backend or if the key is encrypted with a
+        symmetric cipher that is not supported by the backend.
diff --git a/tests/hazmat/backends/test_openssl.py b/tests/hazmat/backends/test_openssl.py
index bba7d75..37347bc 100644
--- a/tests/hazmat/backends/test_openssl.py
+++ b/tests/hazmat/backends/test_openssl.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
 
+import pretend
+
 import pytest
 
 from cryptography import utils
@@ -358,3 +360,14 @@
 
         with raises_unsupported_algorithm(_Reasons.UNSUPPORTED_CIPHER):
             backend.create_cmac_ctx(FakeAlgorithm())
+
+
+class TestOpenSSLSerialisationWithOpenSSL(object):
+    def test_password_too_long(self):
+        ffi_cb, cb = backend._pem_password_cb(b"aa")
+        assert cb(None, 1, False, None) == 0
+
+    def test_unsupported_evp_pkey_type(self):
+        key = pretend.stub(type="unsupported")
+        with raises_unsupported_algorithm(None):
+            backend._evp_pkey_to_private_key(key)
diff --git a/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_serialization.py b/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_serialization.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e6987c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_serialization.py
@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+# 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.
+
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+
+import os
+import textwrap
+
+import pytest
+
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.serialization import (
+    load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key
+)
+
+from .utils import _check_rsa_private_key, load_vectors_from_file
+from ...utils import raises_unsupported_algorithm
+
+
+@pytest.mark.traditional_openssl_serialization
+class TestTraditionalOpenSSLSerialisation(object):
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("key_file", "password"),
+        [
+            ("key1.pem", b"123456"),
+            ("key2.pem", b"a123456"),
+            ("testrsa.pem", None),
+            ("testrsa-encrypted.pem", b"password"),
+        ]
+    )
+    def test_load_pem_rsa_private_key(self, key_file, password, backend):
+        key = load_vectors_from_file(
+            os.path.join(
+                "asymmetric", "Traditional_OpenSSL_Serialization", key_file),
+            lambda pemfile: load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                pemfile.read().encode(), password, backend
+            )
+        )
+
+        assert key
+        _check_rsa_private_key(key)
+
+    def test_key1_pem_encrypted_values(self, backend):
+        pkey = load_vectors_from_file(
+            os.path.join(
+                "asymmetric", "Traditional_OpenSSL_Serialization", "key1.pem"),
+            lambda pemfile: load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                pemfile.read().encode(), b"123456", backend
+            )
+        )
+        assert pkey
+
+        assert pkey.p == int(
+            "fb7d316fc51531b36d93adaefaf52db6ad5beb793d37c4cf9dfc1ddd17cfbafb",
+            16
+        )
+        assert pkey.q == int(
+            "df98264e646de9a0fbeab094e31caad5bc7adceaaae3c800ca0275dd4bb307f5",
+            16
+        )
+        assert pkey.private_exponent == int(
+            "db4848c36f478dd5d38f35ae519643b6b810d404bcb76c00e44015e56ca1cab0"
+            "7bb7ae91f6b4b43fcfc82a47d7ed55b8c575152116994c2ce5325ec24313b911",
+            16
+        )
+        assert pkey.dmp1 == int(
+            "ce997f967192c2bcc3853186f1559fd355c190c58ddc15cbf5de9b6df954c727",
+            16
+        )
+        assert pkey.dmq1 == int(
+            "b018a57ab20ffaa3862435445d863369b852cf70a67c55058213e3fe10e3848d",
+            16
+        )
+        assert pkey.iqmp == int(
+            "6a8d830616924f5cf2d1bc1973f97fde6b63e052222ac7be06aa2532d10bac76",
+            16
+        )
+        assert pkey.public_exponent == 65537
+        assert pkey.modulus == int(
+            "dba786074f2f0350ce1d99f5aed5b520cfe0deb5429ec8f2a88563763f566e77"
+            "9814b7c310e5326edae31198eed439b845dd2db99eaa60f5c16a43f4be6bcf37",
+            16
+        )
+
+    def test_unused_password(self, backend):
+        key_file = os.path.join(
+            "asymmetric", "Traditional_OpenSSL_Serialization", "testrsa.pem")
+        password = b"this password will not be used"
+
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            load_vectors_from_file(
+                key_file,
+                lambda pemfile: load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                    pemfile.read().encode(), password, backend
+                )
+            )
+
+    def test_wrong_password(self, backend):
+        key_file = os.path.join(
+            "asymmetric",
+            "Traditional_OpenSSL_Serialization",
+            "testrsa-encrypted.pem"
+        )
+        password = b"this password is wrong"
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_vectors_from_file(
+                key_file,
+                lambda pemfile: load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                    pemfile.read().encode(), password, backend
+                )
+            )
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("password", [None, b""])
+    def test_missing_password(self, backend, password):
+        key_file = os.path.join(
+            "asymmetric",
+            "Traditional_OpenSSL_Serialization",
+            "testrsa-encrypted.pem"
+        )
+
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            load_vectors_from_file(
+                key_file,
+                lambda pemfile: load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                    pemfile.read().encode(), password, backend
+                )
+            )
+
+    def test_wrong_format(self, backend):
+        key_data = b"---- NOT A KEY ----\n"
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, None, backend
+            )
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, b"this password will not be used", backend
+            )
+
+    def test_corrupt_format(self, backend):
+        # privkey.pem with a bunch of data missing.
+        key_data = textwrap.dedent("""\
+        -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
+        MIIBPAIBAAJBAKrbeqkuRk8VcRmWFmtP+LviMB3+6dizWW3DwaffznyHGAFwUJ/I
+        Tv0XtbsCyl3QoyKGhrOAy3RvPK5M38iuXT0CAwEAAQJAZ3cnzaHXM/bxGaR5CR1R
+        rD1qFBAVfoQFiOH9uPJgMaoAuoQEisPHVcZDKcOv4wEg6/TInAIXBnEigtqvRzuy
+        mvcpHZwQJdmdHHkGKAs37Dfxi67HbkUCIQCeZGliHXFa071Fp06ZeWlR2ADonTZz
+        rJBhdTe0v5pCeQIhAIZfkiGgGBX4cIuuckzEm43g9WMUjxP/0GlK39vIyihxAiEA
+        mymehFRT0MvqW5xAKAx7Pgkt8HVKwVhc2LwGKHE0DZM=
+        -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
+        """).encode()
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, None, backend
+            )
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, b"this password will not be used", backend
+            )
+
+    def test_encrypted_corrupt_format(self, backend):
+        # privkey.pem with a single bit flipped
+        key_data = textwrap.dedent("""\
+        -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
+        Proc-Type: <,ENCRYPTED
+        DEK-Info: AES-128-CBC,5E22A2BD85A653FB7A3ED20DE84F54CD
+
+        hAqtb5ZkTMGcs4BBDQ1SKZzdQThWRDzEDxM3qBfjvYa35KxZ54aic013mW/lwj2I
+        v5bbpOjrHYHNAiZYZ7RNb+ztbF6F/g5PA5g7mFwEq+LFBY0InIplYBSv9QtE+lot
+        Dy4AlZa/+NzJwgdKDb+JVfk5SddyD4ywnyeORnMPy4xXKvjXwmW+iLibZVKsjIgw
+        H8hSxcD+FhWyJm9h9uLtmpuqhQo0jTUYpnTezZx2xeVPB53Ev7YCxR9Nsgj5GsVf
+        9Z/hqLB7IFgM3pa0z3PQeUIZF/cEf72fISWIOBwwkzVrPUkXWfbuWeJXQXSs3amE
+        5A295jD9BQp9CY0nNFSsy+qiXWToq2xT3y5zVNEStmN0SCGNaIlUnJzL9IHW+oMI
+        kPmXZMnAYBWeeCF1gf3J3aE5lZInegHNfEI0+J0LazC2aNU5Dg/BNqrmRqKWEIo/
+        -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
+        """).encode()
+
+        password = b"this password is wrong"
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, None, backend
+            )
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, password, backend
+            )
+
+    def test_unsupported_key_encryption(self, backend):
+        key_data = textwrap.dedent("""\
+        -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
+        Proc-Type: 4,ENCRYPTED
+        DEK-Info: FAKE-123,5E22A2BD85A653FB7A3ED20DE84F54CD
+
+        hAqtb5ZkTMGcs4BBDQ1SKZzdQThWRDzEDxM3qBfjvYa35KxZ54aic013mW/lwj2I
+        v5bbpOjrHYHNAiZYZ7RNb+ztbF6F/g5PA5g7mFwEq+LFBY0InIplYBSv9QtE+lot
+        Dy4AlZa/+NzJwgdKDb+JVfk5SddyD4ywnyeORnMPy4xXKvjXwmW+iLibZVKsjIgw
+        H8hSxcD+FhWyJm9h9uLtmpuqhQo0jTUYpnTezZx2xeVPB53Ev7YCxR9Nsgj5GsVf
+        9Z/hqLB7IFgM3pa0z3PQeUIZF/cEf72fISWIOBwwkzVrPUkXWfbuWeJXQXSs3amE
+        5A295jD9BQp9CY0nNFSsy+qiXWToq2xT3y5zVNEStmN0SCGNaIlUnJzL9IHW+oMI
+        kPmXZMnAYBWeeCF1gf3J3aE5lZInegHNfEI0+J0LazC2aNU5Dg/BNqrmRqKWEIo/
+        -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
+        """).encode()
+
+        password = b"password"
+
+        with raises_unsupported_algorithm(None):
+            load_pem_traditional_openssl_private_key(
+                key_data, password, backend
+            )