diff --git a/jax/_src/prng.py b/jax/_src/prng.py
index 59b482179e21..5963bffd7c28 100644
--- a/jax/_src/prng.py
+++ b/jax/_src/prng.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import abc
-from collections.abc import Hashable, Iterator, Sequence
+from collections.abc import Iterator, Sequence
 from functools import partial, reduce
 import math
 import operator as op
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class PRNGImpl(NamedTuple):
   split: Callable
   random_bits: Callable
   fold_in: Callable
+  name: str = '<unnamed>'
   tag: str = '?'
 
   def __hash__(self) -> int:
@@ -104,12 +105,21 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
     return self.tag
 
   def pprint(self):
-    return (pp.text(f"{self.__class__.__name__} [{self.tag}]:") +
+    ty = self.__class__.__name__
+    return (pp.text(f"{ty} [{self.tag}] {{{self.name}}}:") +
             pp.nest(2, pp.group(pp.brk() + pp.join(pp.brk(), [
               pp.text(f"{k} = {v}") for k, v in self._asdict().items()
             ]))))
 
 
+prngs = {}
+
+def register_prng(impl: PRNGImpl):
+  if impl.name in prngs:
+    raise ValueError(f'PRNG with name {impl.name} already registered: {impl}')
+  prngs[impl.name] = impl
+
+
 # -- PRNG key arrays
 
 def _check_prng_key_data(impl, key_data: typing.Array):
@@ -248,6 +258,7 @@ class behave like an array whose base elements are keys, hiding the
   ``random_bits``, ``fold_in``).
   """
 
+  # TODO(frostig,vanderplas): hide impl attribute
   impl: PRNGImpl
   _base_array: typing.Array
 
@@ -593,7 +604,8 @@ def device_put_replicated(val, aval, sharding, devices):
 
 
 class KeyTy(dtypes.ExtendedDType):
-  impl: Hashable  # prng.PRNGImpl. TODO(mattjj,frostig): protocol really
+  # TODO(frostig,vanderplas): hide impl attribute
+  impl: PRNGImpl  # TODO(mattjj,frostig): protocol really
   _rules = KeyTyRules
   type = dtypes.prng_key
 
@@ -1366,8 +1378,11 @@ def _threefry_random_bits_original(key: typing.Array, bit_width, shape):
     split=threefry_split,
     random_bits=threefry_random_bits,
     fold_in=threefry_fold_in,
+    name='threefry2x32',
     tag='fry')
 
+register_prng(threefry_prng_impl)
+
 
 # -- RngBitGenerator PRNG implementation
 
@@ -1411,8 +1426,12 @@ def _rbg_random_bits(key: typing.Array, bit_width: int, shape: Sequence[int]
     split=_rbg_split,
     random_bits=_rbg_random_bits,
     fold_in=_rbg_fold_in,
+    name='rbg',
     tag='rbg')
 
+register_prng(rbg_prng_impl)
+
+
 def _unsafe_rbg_split(key: typing.Array, shape: Shape) -> typing.Array:
   # treat 10 iterations of random bits as a 'hash function'
   num = math.prod(shape)
@@ -1431,4 +1450,7 @@ def _unsafe_rbg_fold_in(key: typing.Array, data: typing.Array) -> typing.Array:
     split=_unsafe_rbg_split,
     random_bits=_rbg_random_bits,
     fold_in=_unsafe_rbg_fold_in,
+    name='unsafe_rbg',
     tag='urbg')
+
+register_prng(unsafe_rbg_prng_impl)
diff --git a/jax/_src/random.py b/jax/_src/random.py
index 463472b2f477..d5ed72a80341 100644
--- a/jax/_src/random.py
+++ b/jax/_src/random.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 from functools import partial
 import math
 from operator import index
-from typing import Optional, Union
+import typing
+from typing import Hashable, Optional, Union
 import warnings
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -52,7 +53,9 @@
 DTypeLikeFloat = DTypeLike
 Shape = Sequence[int]
 
-# TODO(frostig): simplify once we always enable_custom_prng
+PRNGImpl = prng.PRNGImpl
+
+# TODO(frostig,vanderplas): remove after deprecation window
 KeyArray = Union[Array, prng.PRNGKeyArray]
 PRNGKeyArray = prng.PRNGKeyArray
 
@@ -109,35 +112,64 @@ def _random_bits(key: prng.PRNGKeyArray, bit_width, shape) -> Array:
   return prng.random_bits(key, bit_width=bit_width, shape=shape)
 
 
-PRNG_IMPLS = {
-    'threefry2x32': prng.threefry_prng_impl,
-    'rbg': prng.rbg_prng_impl,
-    'unsafe_rbg': prng.unsafe_rbg_prng_impl,
-}
-
+# TODO(frostig,vanderplas): remove from public API altogether, or at
+# least change to return after asserting presence in `prng.prngs`
 def default_prng_impl():
   """Get the default PRNG implementation.
 
   The default implementation is determined by ``config.jax_default_prng_impl``,
-  which specifies it by name. This function returns the corresponding
-  ``jax.prng.PRNGImpl`` instance.
+  which specifies it by name.
   """
   impl_name = config.jax_default_prng_impl
-  assert impl_name in PRNG_IMPLS, impl_name
-  return PRNG_IMPLS[impl_name]
+  assert impl_name in prng.prngs, impl_name
+  return prng.prngs[impl_name]
 
 
 ### key operations
 
-def resolve_prng_impl(impl_spec: Optional[str]):
+# Wrapper around prng.PRNGImpl meant to hide its attributes from the
+# public API.
+# TODO(frostig,vanderplas): consider hiding all the attributes of
+# PRNGImpl and directly returning it.
+class PRNGSpec:
+  """Specifies a PRNG key implementation."""
+
+  __slots__ = ['_impl']
+  _impl: PRNGImpl
+
+  def __init__(self, impl):
+    self._impl = impl
+
+  def __str__(self)  -> str: return str(self._impl)
+  def __hash__(self) -> int: return hash(self._impl)
+
+  def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
+    return self._impl == other._impl
+
+
+def resolve_prng_impl(
+    impl_spec: Optional[Union[str, PRNGSpec, PRNGImpl]]) -> PRNGImpl:
   if impl_spec is None:
     return default_prng_impl()
-  if impl_spec in PRNG_IMPLS:
-    return PRNG_IMPLS[impl_spec]
+  if type(impl_spec) is PRNGImpl:
+    # TODO(frostig,vanderplas): remove this case once we remove
+    # default_prng_impl (and thus PRNGImpl) from the public API and
+    # PRNGImpl from jex. We won't need to handle these then, and we
+    # can remove them from the input type annotation above as well.
+    return impl_spec
+  if type(impl_spec) is PRNGSpec:
+    return impl_spec._impl
+  if type(impl_spec) is str:
+    if impl_spec in prng.prngs:
+      return prng.prngs[impl_spec]
+
+    keys_fmt = ', '.join(f'"{s}"' for s in prng.prngs.keys())
+    raise ValueError(f'unrecognized PRNG implementation "{impl_spec}". '
+                     f'Did you mean one of: {keys_fmt}?')
+
+  t = type(impl_spec)
+  raise TypeError(f'unrecognized type {t} for specifying PRNG implementation.')
 
-  keys_fmt = ', '.join(f'"{s}"' for s in PRNG_IMPLS.keys())
-  raise ValueError(f'unrecognized PRNG implementation "{impl_spec}". '
-                   f'Did you mean one of: {keys_fmt}?')
 
 def _key(ctor_name: str, seed: Union[int, Array], impl_spec: Optional[str]
          ) -> PRNGKeyArray:
@@ -189,6 +221,7 @@ def PRNGKey(seed: Union[int, Array], *,
   """
   return _return_prng_keys(True, _key('PRNGKey', seed, impl))
 
+
 # TODO(frostig): remove once we always enable_custom_prng
 def _check_default_impl_with_no_custom_prng(impl, name):
   default_impl = default_prng_impl()
@@ -219,6 +252,7 @@ def unsafe_rbg_key(seed: int) -> KeyArray:
   key = prng.seed_with_impl(impl, seed)
   return _return_prng_keys(True, key)
 
+
 def _fold_in(key: KeyArray, data: IntegerArray) -> KeyArray:
   # Alternative to fold_in() to use within random samplers.
   # TODO(frostig): remove and use fold_in() once we always enable_custom_prng
@@ -245,6 +279,7 @@ def fold_in(key: KeyArray, data: IntegerArray) -> KeyArray:
   key, wrapped = _check_prng_key(key)
   return _return_prng_keys(wrapped, _fold_in(key, data))
 
+
 def _split(key: KeyArray, num: Union[int, tuple[int, ...]] = 2) -> KeyArray:
   # Alternative to split() to use within random samplers.
   # TODO(frostig): remove and use split(); we no longer need to wait
@@ -270,6 +305,17 @@ def split(key: KeyArray, num: Union[int, tuple[int, ...]] = 2) -> KeyArray:
   key, wrapped = _check_prng_key(key)
   return _return_prng_keys(wrapped, _split(key, num))
 
+
+def _key_impl(keys: KeyArray) -> PRNGImpl:
+  assert jnp.issubdtype(keys.dtype, dtypes.prng_key)
+  keys_dtype = typing.cast(prng.KeyTy, keys.dtype)
+  return keys_dtype.impl
+
+def key_impl(keys: KeyArray) -> Hashable:
+  keys, _ = _check_prng_key(keys)
+  return PRNGSpec(_key_impl(keys))
+
+
 def _key_data(keys: KeyArray) -> Array:
   assert jnp.issubdtype(keys.dtype, dtypes.prng_key)
   return prng.random_unwrap(keys)
@@ -279,6 +325,7 @@ def key_data(keys: KeyArray) -> Array:
   keys, _ = _check_prng_key(keys)
   return _key_data(keys)
 
+
 def wrap_key_data(key_bits_array: Array, *, impl: Optional[str] = None):
   """Wrap an array of key data bits into a PRNG key array.
 
diff --git a/jax/extend/random.py b/jax/extend/random.py
index 080fcdd2600a..7b1e2ed1e4e0 100644
--- a/jax/extend/random.py
+++ b/jax/extend/random.py
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 # See PEP 484 & https://github.com/google/jax/issues/7570
 
 from jax._src.prng import (
+  # TODO(frostig,vanderplas): expose a define_prng_impl instead of the
+  # PRNGImpl constructor, to leave some room for us to register or check input,
+  # or to change what output type we return.
   PRNGImpl as PRNGImpl,
   seed_with_impl as seed_with_impl,
   threefry2x32_p as threefry2x32_p,
diff --git a/jax/random.py b/jax/random.py
index 4c6c9d860611..b4959ce1990e 100644
--- a/jax/random.py
+++ b/jax/random.py
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@
   gumbel as gumbel,
   key as key,
   key_data as key_data,
+  key_impl as key_impl,
   laplace as laplace,
   logistic as logistic,
   loggamma as loggamma,
diff --git a/tests/random_test.py b/tests/random_test.py
index 69fb10d9815b..4345a31de3b7 100644
--- a/tests/random_test.py
+++ b/tests/random_test.py
@@ -41,9 +41,8 @@
 from jax import config
 config.parse_flags_with_absl()
 
-PRNG_IMPLS = [('threefry2x32', prng_internal.threefry_prng_impl),
-              ('rbg', prng_internal.rbg_prng_impl),
-              ('unsafe_rbg', prng_internal.unsafe_rbg_prng_impl)]
+
+PRNG_IMPLS = list(prng_internal.prngs.items())
 
 
 class OnX64(enum.Enum):
@@ -189,6 +188,14 @@ def check_key_has_impl(self, key, impl):
       self.assertEqual(key.dtype, jnp.dtype('uint32'))
       self.assertEqual(key.shape, impl.key_shape)
 
+  def test_config_prngs_registered(self):
+    # TODO(frostig): pull these string values somehow from the
+    # jax_default_prng_impl config enum state definition directly,
+    # rather than copying manually here?
+    self.assertIn('threefry2x32', prng_internal.prngs)
+    self.assertIn('rbg',          prng_internal.prngs)
+    self.assertIn('unsafe_rbg',   prng_internal.prngs)
+
   def testThreefry2x32(self):
     # We test the hash by comparing to known values provided in the test code of
     # the original reference implementation of Threefry. For the values, see
@@ -1030,6 +1037,8 @@ def test_async(self):
     self.assertArraysEqual(key, key.block_until_ready())
     self.assertIsNone(key.copy_to_host_async())
 
+  # -- key construction and un/wrapping with impls
+
   def test_wrap_key_default(self):
     key1 = jax.random.key(17)
     data = jax.random.key_data(key1)
@@ -1055,6 +1064,37 @@ def test_wrap_key_explicit(self):
     key3 = jax.random.wrap_key_data(data, impl='unsafe_rbg')
     self.assertNotEqual(key1.dtype, key3.dtype)
 
+  @jtu.sample_product(prng_name=[name for name, _ in PRNG_IMPLS])
+  def test_key_make_like_other_key(self, prng_name):
+    # start by specifying the implementation by string name, then
+    # round trip via whatever `key_impl` outputs
+    k1 = jax.random.key(42, impl=prng_name)
+    impl = jax.random.key_impl(k1)
+    k2 = jax.random.key(42, impl=impl)
+    self.assertArraysEqual(k1, k2)
+    self.assertEqual(k1.dtype, k2.dtype)
+
+  @jtu.sample_product(prng_name=[name for name, _ in PRNG_IMPLS])
+  def test_key_wrap_like_other_key(self, prng_name):
+    # start by specifying the implementation by string name, then
+    # round trip via whatever `key_impl` outputs
+    k1 = jax.random.key(42, impl=prng_name)
+    data = jax.random.key_data(k1)
+    impl = jax.random.key_impl(k1)
+    k2 = jax.random.wrap_key_data(data, impl=impl)
+    self.assertArraysEqual(k1, k2)
+    self.assertEqual(k1.dtype, k2.dtype)
+
+  def test_key_impl_from_string_error(self):
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, 'unrecognized PRNG implementation'):
+      jax.random.key(42, impl='unlikely name')
+
+  def test_key_impl_from_object_error(self):
+    class A: pass
+
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, 'unrecognized type .* PRNG'):
+      jax.random.key(42, impl=A())
+
   # TODO(frostig,mattjj): more polymorphic primitives tests