diff --git a/src/uwtools/api/config.py b/src/uwtools/api/config.py
index 7201cfb61..1055c3b9c 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/api/config.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/api/config.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from uwtools.config.formats.yaml import YAMLConfig as _YAMLConfig
 from uwtools.config.tools import compare_configs as _compare
 from uwtools.config.tools import realize_config as _realize
-from uwtools.config.validator import validate_yaml as _validate_yaml
+from uwtools.config.validator import validate_external as _validate_external
 from uwtools.utils.api import ensure_data_source as _ensure_data_source
 from uwtools.utils.api import str2path as _str2path
 from uwtools.utils.file import FORMAT as _FORMAT
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def validate(
     :param stdin_ok: OK to read from ``stdin``?
     :return: ``True`` if the YAML file conforms to the schema, ``False`` otherwise
     """
-    return _validate_yaml(
+    return _validate_external(
         schema_file=_str2path(schema_file), config=_ensure_data_source(_str2path(config), stdin_ok)
     )
 
diff --git a/src/uwtools/config/validator.py b/src/uwtools/config/validator.py
index 39b85405f..8edf2999e 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/config/validator.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/config/validator.py
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ def validate_internal(
     log.info("Validating config against internal schema %s", schema_name)
     schema_file = get_schema_file(schema_name)
     log.debug("Using schema file: %s", schema_file)
-    if not validate_yaml(config=config, schema_file=schema_file):
+    if not validate_external(config=config, schema_file=schema_file):
         raise UWConfigError("YAML validation errors")
 
 
-def validate_yaml(
+def validate_external(
     schema_file: Path, config: Union[dict, YAMLConfig, Optional[Path]] = None
 ) -> bool:
     """
diff --git a/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py b/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py
index 48fd01e57..91ca32ca2 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 from uwtools.config.formats.base import Config
 from uwtools.config.formats.yaml import YAMLConfig
-from uwtools.config.validator import get_schema_file, validate, validate_internal
+from uwtools.config.validator import get_schema_file, validate, validate_external, validate_internal
 from uwtools.exceptions import UWConfigError
 from uwtools.logging import log
 from uwtools.scheduler import JobScheduler
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def __init__(
         config: Optional[Union[dict, Path]] = None,
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ) -> None:
         self._config = YAMLConfig(config=config)
         self._config.dereference(
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ def __init__(
         )
         for key in key_path or []:
             self._config = self._config[key]
-        self._validate()
+        self._validate(schema_file)
         dryrun(enable=dry_run)
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
@@ -199,12 +200,15 @@ def _taskname(self, suffix: str) -> str:
         )
         return " ".join(filter(None, [timestr, self._driver_name, suffix]))
 
-    def _validate(self) -> None:
+    def _validate(self, schema_file: Optional[Path] = None) -> None:
         """
         Perform all necessary schema validation.
         """
         schema_name = self._driver_name.replace("_", "-")
-        validate_internal(schema_name=schema_name, config=self._config)
+        if schema_file:
+            validate_external(schema_file=schema_file, config=self._config)
+        else:
+            validate_internal(schema_name=schema_name, config=self._config)
 
 
 class AssetsCycleBased(Assets):
@@ -218,8 +222,15 @@ def __init__(
         config: Optional[Union[dict, Path]] = None,
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
-        super().__init__(cycle=cycle, config=config, dry_run=dry_run, key_path=key_path)
+        super().__init__(
+            cycle=cycle,
+            config=config,
+            dry_run=dry_run,
+            key_path=key_path,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
+        )
         self._cycle = cycle
 
 
@@ -235,9 +246,15 @@ def __init__(
         config: Optional[Union[dict, Path]] = None,
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
         super().__init__(
-            cycle=cycle, leadtime=leadtime, config=config, dry_run=dry_run, key_path=key_path
+            cycle=cycle,
+            leadtime=leadtime,
+            config=config,
+            dry_run=dry_run,
+            key_path=key_path,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
         )
         self._cycle = cycle
         self._leadtime = leadtime
@@ -253,8 +270,14 @@ def __init__(
         config: Optional[Union[dict, Path]] = None,
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
-        super().__init__(config=config, dry_run=dry_run, key_path=key_path)
+        super().__init__(
+            config=config,
+            dry_run=dry_run,
+            key_path=key_path,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
+        )
 
 
 class Driver(Assets):
@@ -270,9 +293,15 @@ def __init__(
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
         batch: bool = False,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
         super().__init__(
-            cycle=cycle, leadtime=leadtime, config=config, dry_run=dry_run, key_path=key_path
+            cycle=cycle,
+            leadtime=leadtime,
+            config=config,
+            dry_run=dry_run,
+            key_path=key_path,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
         )
         self._batch = batch
 
@@ -410,12 +439,15 @@ def _scheduler(self) -> JobScheduler:
         """
         return JobScheduler.get_scheduler(self._resources)
 
-    def _validate(self) -> None:
+    def _validate(self, schema_file: Optional[Path] = None) -> None:
         """
         Perform all necessary schema validation.
         """
-        for schema_name in (self._driver_name.replace("_", "-"), "platform"):
-            validate_internal(schema_name=schema_name, config=self._config)
+        if schema_file:
+            validate_external(schema_file=schema_file, config=self._config)
+        else:
+            validate_internal(schema_name=self._driver_name.replace("_", "-"), config=self._config)
+        validate_internal(schema_name="platform", config=self._config)
 
     def _write_runscript(self, path: Path, envvars: Optional[dict[str, str]] = None) -> None:
         """
@@ -448,9 +480,15 @@ def __init__(
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
         batch: bool = False,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
         super().__init__(
-            cycle=cycle, config=config, dry_run=dry_run, key_path=key_path, batch=batch
+            cycle=cycle,
+            config=config,
+            dry_run=dry_run,
+            key_path=key_path,
+            batch=batch,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
         )
         self._cycle = cycle
 
@@ -468,6 +506,7 @@ def __init__(
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
         batch: bool = False,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
         super().__init__(
             cycle=cycle,
@@ -476,6 +515,7 @@ def __init__(
             dry_run=dry_run,
             key_path=key_path,
             batch=batch,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
         )
         self._cycle = cycle
         self._leadtime = leadtime
@@ -492,8 +532,15 @@ def __init__(
         dry_run: bool = False,
         key_path: Optional[list[str]] = None,
         batch: bool = False,
+        schema_file: Optional[Path] = None,
     ):
-        super().__init__(config=config, dry_run=dry_run, key_path=key_path, batch=batch)
+        super().__init__(
+            config=config,
+            dry_run=dry_run,
+            key_path=key_path,
+            batch=batch,
+            schema_file=schema_file,
+        )
 
 
 DriverT = Union[type[Assets], type[Driver]]
@@ -515,6 +562,7 @@ def _add_docstring(class_: type, omit: Optional[list[str]] = None) -> None:
     :param dry_run: Run in dry-run mode?
     :param key_path: Keys leading through the config to the driver's configuration block.
     :param batch: Run component via the batch system?
+    :param schema_file: Path to schema file to use to validate an external driver.
     """
     setattr(
         class_,
diff --git a/src/uwtools/rocoto.py b/src/uwtools/rocoto.py
index 8b84dddf6..ffd9953ad 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/rocoto.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/rocoto.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from lxml.etree import Element, SubElement, _Element
 
 from uwtools.config.formats.yaml import YAMLConfig
-from uwtools.config.validator import validate_yaml
+from uwtools.config.validator import validate_external as validate_yaml
 from uwtools.exceptions import UWConfigError, UWError
 from uwtools.logging import log
 from uwtools.utils.file import readable, resource_path, writable
diff --git a/src/uwtools/tests/api/test_config.py b/src/uwtools/tests/api/test_config.py
index e58744684..f9ae27a73 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/tests/api/test_config.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/tests/api/test_config.py
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ def test_realize_to_dict():
 @mark.parametrize("cfg", [{"foo": "bar"}, YAMLConfig(config={})])
 def test_validate(cfg):
     kwargs: dict = {"schema_file": "schema-file", "config": cfg}
-    with patch.object(config, "_validate_yaml", return_value=True) as _validate_yaml:
+    with patch.object(config, "_validate_external", return_value=True) as _validate_external:
         assert config.validate(**kwargs)
-    _validate_yaml.assert_called_once_with(
+    _validate_external.assert_called_once_with(
         schema_file=Path(kwargs["schema_file"]), config=kwargs["config"]
     )
 
@@ -106,6 +106,6 @@ def test_validate_config_file(tmp_path):
     with open(cfg, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         yaml.dump({}, f)
     kwargs: dict = {"schema_file": "schema-file", "config": cfg}
-    with patch.object(config, "_validate_yaml", return_value=True) as _validate_yaml:
+    with patch.object(config, "_validate_external", return_value=True) as _validate_external:
         assert config.validate(**kwargs)
-    _validate_yaml.assert_called_once_with(schema_file=Path(kwargs["schema_file"]), config=cfg)
+    _validate_external.assert_called_once_with(schema_file=Path(kwargs["schema_file"]), config=cfg)
diff --git a/src/uwtools/tests/config/test_validator.py b/src/uwtools/tests/config/test_validator.py
index 54ac5a1f2..098cfe284 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/tests/config/test_validator.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/tests/config/test_validator.py
@@ -163,10 +163,10 @@ def test_validate_internal_ok(schema_file):
         validator.validate_internal(schema_name="a", config={"color": "blue"})
 
 
-def test_validate_yaml(assets, config, schema):
+def test_validate_external(assets, config, schema):
     schema_file, _, cfgobj = assets
     with patch.object(validator, "validate") as validate:
-        validator.validate_yaml(schema_file=schema_file, config=cfgobj)
+        validator.validate_external(schema_file=schema_file, config=cfgobj)
     validate.assert_called_once_with(schema=schema, config=config)
 
 
diff --git a/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py b/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py
index 8285b2f26..a34b4f8df 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 from textwrap import dedent
+from typing import Optional
 from unittest.mock import Mock, PropertyMock, patch
 
 import yaml
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ def provisioned_rundir(self):
     def _driver_name(self) -> str:
         return "concrete"
 
-    def _validate(self) -> None:
+    def _validate(self, schema_file: Optional[Path] = None) -> None:
         pass
 
 
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ def test_Assets__rundir(assetsobj):
     assert assetsobj._rundir == Path(assetsobj._driver_config["rundir"])
 
 
-def test_Assets__validate(assetsobj):
+def test_Assets__validate_internal(assetsobj):
     with patch.object(assetsobj, "_validate", driver.Assets._validate):
         with patch.object(driver, "validate_internal") as validate_internal:
             assetsobj._validate(assetsobj)
@@ -245,6 +246,17 @@ def test_Assets__validate(assetsobj):
         }
 
 
+def test_Assets__validate_external(config):
+    schema_file = Path("/path/to/jsonschema")
+    with patch.object(ConcreteAssetsTimeInvariant, "_validate", driver.Assets._validate):
+        with patch.object(driver, "validate_external") as validate_external:
+            assetsobj = ConcreteAssetsTimeInvariant(schema_file=schema_file, config=config)
+        assert validate_external.call_args_list[0].kwargs == {
+            "schema_file": schema_file,
+            "config": assetsobj._config,
+        }
+
+
 # Driver Tests
 
 
@@ -479,7 +491,7 @@ def test_Driver__scheduler(driverobj):
         JobScheduler.get_scheduler.assert_called_with(driverobj._resources)
 
 
-def test_Driver__validate(assetsobj):
+def test_Driver__validate_internal(assetsobj):
     with patch.object(assetsobj, "_validate", driver.Driver._validate):
         with patch.object(driver, "validate_internal") as validate_internal:
             assetsobj._validate(assetsobj)
@@ -493,6 +505,17 @@ def test_Driver__validate(assetsobj):
         }
 
 
+def test_Driver__validate_external(config):
+    schema_file = Path("/path/to/jsonschema")
+    with patch.object(ConcreteAssetsTimeInvariant, "_validate", driver.Driver._validate):
+        with patch.object(driver, "validate_external") as validate_external:
+            assetsobj = ConcreteAssetsTimeInvariant(schema_file=schema_file, config=config)
+        assert validate_external.call_args_list[0].kwargs == {
+            "schema_file": schema_file,
+            "config": assetsobj._config,
+        }
+
+
 def test_Driver__write_runscript(driverobj):
     rundir = driverobj._driver_config["rundir"]
     path = Path(rundir) / "runscript"
@@ -526,6 +549,6 @@ class C:
     assert getattr(C, "__doc__") is None
     with patch.object(driver, "C", C, create=True):
         class_ = driver.C  # type: ignore # pylint: disable=no-member
-        omit = ["cycle", "leadtime", "config", "dry_run", "key_path", "batch"]
+        omit = ["cycle", "leadtime", "config", "dry_run", "key_path", "batch", "schema_file"]
         driver._add_docstring(class_=class_, omit=omit)
     assert getattr(C, "__doc__").strip() == "The driver."
diff --git a/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_support.py b/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_support.py
index 6d4a4a62c..d3026e407 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_support.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_support.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 """
 Tests for uwtools.drivers.support module.
 """
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
+
 from iotaa import asset, external, task, tasks
 
 from uwtools.drivers import support
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ def _resources(self):
         def _taskname(self, suffix):
             pass
 
-        def _validate(self):
+        def _validate(self, schema_file: Optional[Path] = None):
             pass
 
     assert support.tasks(SomeDriver) == {
diff --git a/src/uwtools/tests/test_cli.py b/src/uwtools/tests/test_cli.py
index 093e52a92..96718ec81 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -332,13 +332,13 @@ def test__dispatch_config_validate_config_obj():
         STR.schemafile: Path("/path/to/a.jsonschema"),
         STR.infile: Path("/path/to/config.yaml"),
     }
-    with patch.object(uwtools.api.config, "_validate_yaml") as _validate_yaml:
+    with patch.object(uwtools.api.config, "_validate_external") as _validate_external:
         cli._dispatch_config_validate(_dispatch_config_validate_args)
-    _validate_yaml_args = {
+    _validate_external_args = {
         STR.schemafile: _dispatch_config_validate_args[STR.schemafile],
         STR.config: _dispatch_config_validate_args[STR.infile],
     }
-    _validate_yaml.assert_called_once_with(**_validate_yaml_args)
+    _validate_external.assert_called_once_with(**_validate_external_args)
 
 
 @mark.parametrize(