diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/export.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/export.py
index d6110e2..e6df098 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/export.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/export.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from functools import wraps
 
-from IPython.nbformat.current import NotebookNode
+from IPython.nbformat.v4 import NotebookNode
 from IPython.utils.decorators import undoc
 from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
index 775fe39..77973ba 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
@@ -2,39 +2,22 @@
 see templateexporter.py.
 """
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Copyright (c) 2013, the IPython Development Team.
-#
-# Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
-#
-# The full license is in the file COPYING.txt, distributed with this software.
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Imports
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 from __future__ import print_function, absolute_import
 
-# Stdlib imports
 import io
 import os
 import copy
 import collections
 import datetime
 
-
-# IPython imports
 from IPython.config.configurable import LoggingConfigurable
 from IPython.config import Config
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython import nbformat
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import MetaHasTraits, Unicode, List
 from IPython.utils.importstring import import_item
 from IPython.utils import text, py3compat
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Class
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class ResourcesDict(collections.defaultdict):
     def __missing__(self, key):
@@ -107,7 +90,7 @@ class Exporter(LoggingConfigurable):
         Parameters
         ----------
         nb : :class:`~IPython.nbformat.current.NotebookNode`
-          Notebook node
+          Notebook node (dict-like with attr-access)
         resources : dict
           Additional resources that can be accessed read/write by
           preprocessors and filters.
@@ -149,7 +132,7 @@ class Exporter(LoggingConfigurable):
         resources['metadata']['modified_date'] = modified_date.strftime(text.date_format)
 
         with io.open(filename, encoding='utf-8') as f:
-            return self.from_notebook_node(nbformat.read(f, 'json'), resources=resources, **kw)
+            return self.from_notebook_node(nbformat.read(f, as_version=4), resources=resources, **kw)
 
 
     def from_file(self, file_stream, resources=None, **kw):
@@ -161,7 +144,7 @@ class Exporter(LoggingConfigurable):
         file_stream : file-like object
             Notebook file-like object to convert.
         """
-        return self.from_notebook_node(nbformat.read(file_stream, 'json'), resources=resources, **kw)
+        return self.from_notebook_node(nbformat.read(file_stream, as_version=4), resources=resources, **kw)
 
 
     def register_preprocessor(self, preprocessor, enabled=False):
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/notebook.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/notebook.py
index 65250a3..61c9bc6 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/notebook.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/notebook.py
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 from .exporter import Exporter
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython import nbformat
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Enum
 
 class NotebookExporter(Exporter):
     """Exports to an IPython notebook."""
 
-    nbformat_version = Enum(list(range(2, nbformat.current_nbformat + 1)),
+    nbformat_version = Enum(list(nbformat.versions),
         default_value=nbformat.current_nbformat,
         config=True,
         help="""The nbformat version to write.
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class NotebookExporter(Exporter):
 
     def from_notebook_node(self, nb, resources=None, **kw):
         nb_copy, resources = super(NotebookExporter, self).from_notebook_node(nb, resources, **kw)
-        if self.nbformat_version != nbformat.current_nbformat:
+        if self.nbformat_version != nb_copy.nbformat:
             resources['output_suffix'] = '.v%i' % self.nbformat_version
         else:
             resources['output_suffix'] = '.nbconvert'
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_export.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_export.py
index ccf7de5..1b7292a 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_export.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_export.py
@@ -2,29 +2,17 @@
 Module with tests for export.py
 """
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Copyright (c) 2013, the IPython Development Team.
-#
+# Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
-#
-# The full license is in the file COPYING.txt, distributed with this software.
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Imports
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 import os
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython import nbformat
 
 from .base import ExportersTestsBase
 from ..export import *
 from ..python import PythonExporter
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Class
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class TestExport(ExportersTestsBase):
     """Contains test functions for export.py"""
@@ -53,7 +41,7 @@ class TestExport(ExportersTestsBase):
         Can a notebook be exported by a notebook node handle?
         """
         with open(self._get_notebook(), 'r') as f:
-            notebook = nbformat.read(f, 'json')
+            notebook = nbformat.read(f, 4)
             (output, resources) = export_by_name('python', notebook)
         assert len(output) > 0
 
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py
index 2ccd201..da368dd 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ import re
 
 from .base import ExportersTestsBase
 from ..latex import LatexExporter
-from IPython.nbformat import current
+from IPython.nbformat import write
+from IPython.nbformat import v4
 from IPython.testing.decorators import onlyif_cmds_exist
 from IPython.utils.tempdir import TemporaryDirectory
 
@@ -85,18 +86,18 @@ class TestLatexExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         large_lorem_ipsum_text = "".join([lorem_ipsum_text]*3000)
 
         notebook_name = "lorem_ipsum_long.ipynb"
-        nb = current.new_notebook(
+        nb = v4.new_notebook(
             cells=[
-                    current.new_markdown_cell(source=large_lorem_ipsum_text)
+                    v4.new_markdown_cell(source=large_lorem_ipsum_text)
             ]
         )
 
         with TemporaryDirectory() as td:
             nbfile = os.path.join(td, notebook_name)
             with open(nbfile, 'w') as f:
-                current.write(nb, f, 'ipynb')
+                write(f, nb, 4)
 
-            (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template_file='article').from_filename(nbfile)            
+            (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template_file='article').from_filename(nbfile)
             assert len(output) > 0
 
     @onlyif_cmds_exist('pandoc')
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_notebook.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_notebook.py
index 2af5491..4fefb1c 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_notebook.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_notebook.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import json
 from .base import ExportersTestsBase
 from ..notebook import NotebookExporter
 
-from IPython.nbformat.current import validate
+from IPython.nbformat import validate
 from IPython.testing.tools import assert_big_text_equal
 
 class TestNotebookExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_rst.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_rst.py
index 8d35844..1ccdb80 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_rst.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_rst.py
@@ -1,20 +1,12 @@
 """Tests for RSTExporter"""
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Copyright (c) 2013, the IPython Development Team.
-#
+# Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
-#
-# The full license is in the file COPYING.txt, distributed with this software.
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Imports
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 import io
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current
+from IPython import nbformat
+from IPython.nbformat import v4
 
 from .base import ExportersTestsBase
 from ..rst import RSTExporter
@@ -47,14 +39,14 @@ class TestRSTExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """No empty code cells in rst"""
         nbname = self._get_notebook()
         with io.open(nbname, encoding='utf8') as f:
-            nb = current.read(f, 'json')
+            nb = nbformat.read(f, 4)
         
         exporter = self.exporter_class()
         
         (output, resources) = exporter.from_notebook_node(nb)
         # add an empty code cell
         nb.cells.append(
-            current.new_code_cell(source="")
+            v4.new_code_cell(source="")
         )
         (output2, resources) = exporter.from_notebook_node(nb)
         # adding an empty code cell shouldn't change output
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/execute.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/execute.py
index 12077c5..4360b6b 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/execute.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/execute.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 import os
-import sys
 
 try:
     from queue import Empty  # Py 3
@@ -13,10 +12,11 @@ except ImportError:
 
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import List, Unicode
 
-from IPython.nbformat.current import reads, writes, output_from_msg
+from IPython.nbformat.v4 import output_from_msg
 from .base import Preprocessor
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Integer
 
+
 class ExecutePreprocessor(Preprocessor):
     """
     Executes all the cells in a notebook
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/base.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/base.py
index 2e1bfa1..e27cd57 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/base.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/base.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython.nbformat import v4 as nbformat
 
 from ...tests.base import TestsBase
 from ...exporters.exporter import ResourcesDict
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_clearoutput.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_clearoutput.py
index 21f4c2e..78db651 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_clearoutput.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_clearoutput.py
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ Module with tests for the clearoutput preprocessor.
 # Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
-
 from .base import PreprocessorTestsBase
 from ..clearoutput import ClearOutputPreprocessor
 
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_coalescestreams.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_coalescestreams.py
index f65a7ff..bded340 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_coalescestreams.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_coalescestreams.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython.nbformat import v4 as nbformat
 
 from .base import PreprocessorTestsBase
 from ..coalescestreams import coalesce_streams
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_execute.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_execute.py
index 2a62144..2cf426f 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_execute.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_execute.py
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ Module with tests for the execute preprocessor.
 
 import copy
 import glob
+import io
 import os
 import re
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython import nbformat
 
 from .base import PreprocessorTestsBase
 from ..execute import ExecutePreprocessor
@@ -78,8 +79,8 @@ class TestExecute(PreprocessorTestsBase):
         current_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
         input_files = glob.glob(os.path.join(current_dir, 'files', '*.ipynb'))
         for filename in input_files:
-            with open(os.path.join(current_dir, 'files', filename)) as f:
-                input_nb = nbformat.read(f, 'ipynb')
+            with io.open(os.path.join(current_dir, 'files', filename)) as f:
+                input_nb = nbformat.read(f, 4)
             res = self.build_resources()
             preprocessor = self.build_preprocessor()
             cleaned_input_nb = copy.deepcopy(input_nb)
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_revealhelp.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_revealhelp.py
index 49c8894..07fb23a 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_revealhelp.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_revealhelp.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython.nbformat import v4 as nbformat
 
 from .base import PreprocessorTestsBase
 from ..revealhelp import RevealHelpPreprocessor
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_svg2pdf.py b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_svg2pdf.py
index d3bd16c..e69e926 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_svg2pdf.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/preprocessors/tests/test_svg2pdf.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 from IPython.testing import decorators as dec
-from IPython.nbformat import current as nbformat
+from IPython.nbformat import v4 as nbformat
 
 from .base import PreprocessorTestsBase
 from ..svg2pdf import SVG2PDFPreprocessor
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/tests/base.py b/IPython/nbconvert/tests/base.py
index c4affc8..61664d6 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/tests/base.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/tests/base.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import shutil
 import unittest
 
 import IPython
-from IPython.nbformat import current
+from IPython.nbformat import v4, write
 from IPython.utils.tempdir import TemporaryWorkingDirectory
 from IPython.utils.path import get_ipython_package_dir
 from IPython.utils.process import get_output_error_code
@@ -101,10 +101,9 @@ class TestsBase(unittest.TestCase):
         return temp_dir
     
     def create_empty_notebook(self, path):
-        nb = current.new_notebook()
+        nb = v4.new_notebook()
         with io.open(path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
-            current.write(nb, f, 'json')
-
+            write(f, nb, 4)
 
     def copy_files_to(self, copy_filenames, dest='.'):
         "Copy test files into the destination directory"