diff --git a/core/capacity/limiter.py b/core/capacity/limiter.py
index 5c3426255..4b74f6f9f 100644
--- a/core/capacity/limiter.py
+++ b/core/capacity/limiter.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 from core.capacity.logs import emit
 from core.capacity.threads import RedisThread
 from core.common.utils import get_event_metadata
-from core.users.constants import CORE_USER_GROUP, EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP
+from core.users.constants import CORE_USER_GROUP, EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP, PRO_GROUP
 
 _NOW_MS = """
 if redis.replicate_commands then redis.replicate_commands() end
@@ -248,13 +248,13 @@ def get_not_after_ms():
 
 
 def get_tier(user):
-    """The user's highest plan tier, as capabilities resolve it: staff > core > early_access > preview."""
+    """The user's highest plan tier, as capabilities resolve it: staff > core > early_access (also pro) > preview."""
     if user.is_staff or user.is_superuser:
         return TIER_STAFF
     groups = set(user.groups.values_list('name', flat=True))
     if CORE_USER_GROUP in groups:
         return TIER_CORE
-    if EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP in groups:
+    if EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP in groups or PRO_GROUP in groups:
         return TIER_EARLY_ACCESS
     return TIER_PREVIEW
 
diff --git a/core/capacity/tests/tests.py b/core/capacity/tests/tests.py
index 0e1699b15..30d007b35 100644
--- a/core/capacity/tests/tests.py
+++ b/core/capacity/tests/tests.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 from core.capacity.threads import RedisThread
 from core.common.tests import OCLTestCase, OCLAPITestCase, PREVIEW_GROUP_NAME
 from core.common.utils import get_event_metadata
-from core.users.constants import CORE_USER_GROUP, EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP
+from core.users.constants import CORE_USER_GROUP, EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP, PRO_GROUP
 from core.users.tests.factories import UserProfileFactory
 
 
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ def test_get_tier(self):
         self.assertEqual(get_tier(make_user(is_superuser=True)), 'staff')
         self.assertEqual(get_tier(make_user(CORE_USER_GROUP)), 'core')
         self.assertEqual(get_tier(make_user(EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP)), 'early_access')
+        self.assertEqual(get_tier(make_user(PRO_GROUP)), 'early_access')
         self.assertEqual(get_tier(make_user(PREVIEW_GROUP_NAME)), 'preview')
         self.assertEqual(get_tier(make_user()), 'preview')
         user = make_user(PREVIEW_GROUP_NAME)
diff --git a/core/users/constants.py b/core/users/constants.py
index fbcbbd498..ad17bba95 100644
--- a/core/users/constants.py
+++ b/core/users/constants.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 PREVIEW_GROUP = 'preview'
 PREVIEW_GRANDFATHERED_GROUP = 'preview_grandfathered'  # existing accounts (ocl_online#230); layered on `preview`
 EARLY_ACCESS_GROUP = 'early_access'
+PRO_GROUP = 'pro'  # gets early access's capacity tier (ocl_online#517)
 BULK_IMPORT_ADVANCED_PERMISSION = 'users.bulk_import_advanced'
 BULK_IMPORT_PRIORITY_PERMISSION = 'users.bulk_import_priority'
 LIST_UNPAGINATED_PERMISSION = 'users.list_unpaginated'