diff --git a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTrait.php b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTrait.php
index ef9dd4b..32d2437 100644
--- a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTrait.php
+++ b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTrait.php
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 namespace ZfrRest\Mvc\Controller\MethodHandler;
 
 use Zend\InputFilter\InputFilterPluginManager;
+use Zend\Mvc\Controller\AbstractController;
 use ZfrRest\Http\Exception\Client\UnprocessableEntityException;
+use ZfrRest\Mvc\Controller\ValidationGroupProviderInterface;
 use ZfrRest\Mvc\Exception\RuntimeException;
 use ZfrRest\Resource\ResourceInterface;
 
@@ -39,14 +41,20 @@ trait DataValidationTrait
     /**
      * Filter and validate the data
      *
-     * @param  ResourceInterface $resource
-     * @param  array $data
+     * @param  ResourceInterface       $resource
+     * @param  array                   $data
+     * @param  AbstractController|null $controller
+     * @param  string|null             $validationGroupName
      * @return array
      * @throws RuntimeException If no input filter is bound to the resource
      * @throws UnprocessableEntityException If validation fails
      */
-    public function validateData(ResourceInterface $resource, array $data)
-    {
+    public function validateData(
+        ResourceInterface $resource,
+        array $data,
+        AbstractController $controller = null,
+        $validationGroupName = null
+    ) {
         if (!($inputFilterName = $resource->getMetadata()->getInputFilterName())) {
             throw new RuntimeException('No input filter name has been found in resource metadata');
         }
@@ -55,6 +63,14 @@ public function validateData(ResourceInterface $resource, array $data)
         $inputFilter = $this->inputFilterPluginManager->get($inputFilterName);
         $inputFilter->setData($data);
 
+        if ($controller instanceof ValidationGroupProviderInterface && $validationGroupName) {
+            $validationGroups = $controller->getValidationGroupSpecification();
+
+            if (isset($validationGroups[$validationGroupName])) {
+                $inputFilter->setValidationGroup($validationGroups[$validationGroupName]);
+            }
+        }
+
         if (!$inputFilter->isValid()) {
             throw new UnprocessableEntityException(
                 'Validation error',
diff --git a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PostHandler.php b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PostHandler.php
index e2d8a3a..22b47e1 100644
--- a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PostHandler.php
+++ b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PostHandler.php
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public function handleMethod(AbstractRestfulController $controller, ResourceInte
         $data           = json_decode($controller->getRequest()->getContent(), true);
 
         if ($controller->getAutoValidate()) {
-            $data = $this->validateData($singleResource, $data);
+            $data = $this->validateData($singleResource, $data, $controller, 'post');
         }
 
         if ($controller->getAutoHydrate()) {
diff --git a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PutHandler.php b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PutHandler.php
index d1af871..86d11cd 100644
--- a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PutHandler.php
+++ b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/PutHandler.php
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public function handleMethod(AbstractRestfulController $controller, ResourceInte
         $data = json_decode($controller->getRequest()->getContent(), true);
 
         if ($controller->getAutoValidate()) {
-            $data = $this->validateData($resource, $data);
+            $data = $this->validateData($resource, $data, $controller, 'put');
         }
 
         if ($controller->getAutoHydrate()) {
diff --git a/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/ValidationGroupProviderInterface.php b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/ValidationGroupProviderInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6c5c73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ZfrRest/Mvc/Controller/ValidationGroupProviderInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many individuals
+ * and is licensed under the MIT license.
+ */
+
+namespace ZfrRest\Mvc\Controller;
+
+/**
+ * Interface that allows to provide validation group, indexed by HTTP verb
+ *
+ * @author  Michaël Gallego <mic.gallego@gmail.com>
+ * @licence MIT
+ */
+interface ValidationGroupProviderInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Get the validation group specification
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function getValidationGroupSpecification();
+}
diff --git a/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/ControllerWithValidationGroupSpec.php b/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/ControllerWithValidationGroupSpec.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc7da21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/ControllerWithValidationGroupSpec.php
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many individuals
+ * and is licensed under the MIT license.
+ */
+
+namespace ZfrRestTest\Asset\Mvc;
+
+
+use ZfrRest\Mvc\Controller\AbstractRestfulController;
+use ZfrRest\Mvc\Controller\ValidationGroupProviderInterface;
+
+class ControllerWithValidationGroupSpec extends AbstractRestfulController implements ValidationGroupProviderInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
+    public function getValidationGroupSpecification()
+    {
+        return [
+            'post' => ['field']
+        ];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/DataValidationObject.php b/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/DataValidationObject.php
index 0d4bc85..49ff50e 100644
--- a/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/DataValidationObject.php
+++ b/tests/ZfrRestTest/Asset/Mvc/DataValidationObject.php
@@ -25,12 +25,13 @@ class DataValidationObject
 {
     use DataValidationTrait;
 
+    protected $controller;
+
     /**
-     * @param InputFilterPluginManager    $inputFilterPluginManager
+     * @param InputFilterPluginManager $inputFilterPluginManager
      */
     public function __construct(InputFilterPluginManager $inputFilterPluginManager)
     {
-        $this->inputFilterPluginManager    = $inputFilterPluginManager;
+        $this->inputFilterPluginManager = $inputFilterPluginManager;
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/tests/ZfrRestTest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTraitTest.php b/tests/ZfrRestTest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTraitTest.php
index 221f495..71609a0 100644
--- a/tests/ZfrRestTest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTraitTest.php
+++ b/tests/ZfrRestTest/Mvc/Controller/MethodHandler/DataValidationTraitTest.php
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase;
 use ZfrRest\Options\ControllerBehavioursOptions;
+use ZfrRestTest\Asset\Mvc\ControllerWithValidationGroupSpec;
 use ZfrRestTest\Asset\Mvc\DataValidationObject;
 
 /**
@@ -117,4 +118,40 @@ public function testThrowExceptionOnFailedValidation()
 
         $this->dataValidation->validateData($resource, $data);
     }
+
+    public function testCanUseValidationGroup()
+    {
+        $resource = $this->getMock('ZfrRest\Resource\ResourceInterface');
+        $metadata = $this->getMock('ZfrRest\Resource\Metadata\ResourceMetadataInterface');
+
+        $resource->expects($this->once())->method('getMetadata')->will($this->returnValue($metadata));
+        $metadata->expects($this->once())->method('getInputFilterName')->will($this->returnValue('inputFilter'));
+
+        $data = ['foo'];
+
+        $inputFilter = $this->getMock('Zend\InputFilter\InputFilterInterface');
+        $inputFilter->expects($this->once())->method('setData')->with($data);
+        $inputFilter->expects($this->once())
+                    ->method('isValid')
+                    ->will($this->returnValue(true));
+
+        $inputFilter->expects($this->once())
+                    ->method('setValidationGroup')
+                    ->with(['field']);
+
+        $this->inputFilterPluginManager->expects($this->once())
+                                       ->method('get')
+                                       ->with('inputFilter')
+                                       ->will($this->returnValue($inputFilter));
+
+        $inputFilter->expects($this->once())
+                    ->method('getValues')
+                    ->will($this->returnValue(['filtered']));
+
+        $controller = new ControllerWithValidationGroupSpec();
+
+        $result = $this->dataValidation->validateData($resource, $data, $controller, 'post');
+
+        $this->assertEquals(['filtered'], $result);
+    }
 }