diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/749-argspec.yml b/changelogs/fragments/749-argspec.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f90f58009
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/749-argspec.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+deprecated_features:
+  - "crypto.module_backends.common module utils - the ``crypto.module_backends.common`` module utils is deprecated and will be removed from community.crypto 3.0.0. Use the improved ``argspec`` module util instead (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.crypto/pull/749)."
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/acme/acme.py b/plugins/module_utils/acme/acme.py
index 044f85080..d89d77083 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/acme/acme.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/acme/acme.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 from ansible.module_utils.urls import fetch_url
 from ansible.module_utils.six import PY3
 
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.argspec import ArgumentSpec
+
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.backend_openssl_cli import (
     OpenSSLCLIBackend,
 )
@@ -439,6 +441,28 @@ def get_default_argspec(with_account=True):
     return argspec
 
 
+def create_default_argspec(with_account=True, require_account_key=True):
+    '''
+    Provides default argument spec for the options documented in the acme doc fragment.
+    '''
+    result = ArgumentSpec(
+        get_default_argspec(with_account=with_account),
+    )
+    if with_account:
+        if require_account_key:
+            result.update(
+                required_one_of=[
+                    ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
+                ],
+            )
+        result.update(
+            mutually_exclusive=[
+                ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
+            ],
+        )
+    return result
+
+
 def create_backend(module, needs_acme_v2):
     if not HAS_IPADDRESS:
         module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib('ipaddress'), exception=IPADDRESS_IMPORT_ERROR)
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/argspec.py b/plugins/module_utils/argspec.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6ba9c243
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/argspec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2020, Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+
+
+def _ensure_list(value):
+    if value is None:
+        return []
+    return list(value)
+
+
+class ArgumentSpec:
+    def __init__(self, argument_spec=None, mutually_exclusive=None, required_together=None, required_one_of=None, required_if=None, required_by=None):
+        self.argument_spec = argument_spec or {}
+        self.mutually_exclusive = _ensure_list(mutually_exclusive)
+        self.required_together = _ensure_list(required_together)
+        self.required_one_of = _ensure_list(required_one_of)
+        self.required_if = _ensure_list(required_if)
+        self.required_by = required_by or {}
+
+    def update_argspec(self, **kwargs):
+        self.argument_spec.update(kwargs)
+        return self
+
+    def update(self, mutually_exclusive=None, required_together=None, required_one_of=None, required_if=None, required_by=None):
+        if mutually_exclusive:
+            self.mutually_exclusive.extend(mutually_exclusive)
+        if required_together:
+            self.required_together.extend(required_together)
+        if required_one_of:
+            self.required_one_of.extend(required_one_of)
+        if required_if:
+            self.required_if.extend(required_if)
+        if required_by:
+            for k, v in required_by.items():
+                if k in self.required_by:
+                    v = list(self.required_by[k]) + list(v)
+                self.required_by[k] = v
+        return self
+
+    def merge(self, other):
+        self.update_argspec(other.argument_spec)
+        self.update(
+            mutually_exclusive=other.mutually_exclusive,
+            required_together=other.required_together,
+            required_one_of=other.required_one_of,
+            required_if=other.required_if,
+            required_by=other.required_by,
+        )
+        return self
+
+    def create_ansible_module_helper(self, clazz, args, **kwargs):
+        return clazz(
+            *args,
+            argument_spec=self.argument_spec,
+            mutually_exclusive=self.mutually_exclusive,
+            required_together=self.required_together,
+            required_one_of=self.required_one_of,
+            required_if=self.required_if,
+            required_by=self.required_by,
+            **kwargs)
+
+    def create_ansible_module(self, **kwargs):
+        return self.create_ansible_module_helper(AnsibleModule, (), **kwargs)
+
+
+__all__ = ('ArgumentSpec', )
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/certificate.py b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/certificate.py
index 7bc93d934..595748fb9 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/certificate.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/certificate.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 from ansible.module_utils import six
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
 
-from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.argspec import ArgumentSpec
 
-from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.module_backends.common import ArgumentSpec
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.basic import (
     OpenSSLObjectError,
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/common.py b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/common.py
index 67f87dd0c..6616249c4 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/common.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/common.py
@@ -10,26 +10,19 @@
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.argspec import ArgumentSpec as _ArgumentSpec
 
-class ArgumentSpec:
-    def __init__(self, argument_spec, mutually_exclusive=None, required_together=None, required_one_of=None, required_if=None, required_by=None):
-        self.argument_spec = argument_spec
-        self.mutually_exclusive = mutually_exclusive or []
-        self.required_together = required_together or []
-        self.required_one_of = required_one_of or []
-        self.required_if = required_if or []
-        self.required_by = required_by or {}
 
+class ArgumentSpec(_ArgumentSpec):
     def create_ansible_module_helper(self, clazz, args, **kwargs):
-        return clazz(
-            *args,
-            argument_spec=self.argument_spec,
-            mutually_exclusive=self.mutually_exclusive,
-            required_together=self.required_together,
-            required_one_of=self.required_one_of,
-            required_if=self.required_if,
-            required_by=self.required_by,
-            **kwargs)
-
-    def create_ansible_module(self, **kwargs):
-        return self.create_ansible_module_helper(AnsibleModule, (), **kwargs)
+        result = super(ArgumentSpec, self).create_ansible_module_helper(clazz, args, **kwargs)
+        result.deprecate(
+            "The crypto.module_backends.common module utils is deprecated and will be removed from community.crypto 3.0.0."
+            " Use the argspec module utils from community.crypto instead.",
+            version='3.0.0',
+            collection_name='community.crypto',
+        )
+        return result
+
+
+__all__ = ('AnsibleModule', 'ArgumentSpec')
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/csr.py b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/csr.py
index 4ab14e527..6ce7e2438 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/csr.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/csr.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native, to_text
 
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.argspec import ArgumentSpec
+
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.basic import (
@@ -49,8 +51,6 @@
     get_csr_info,
 )
 
-from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.module_backends.common import ArgumentSpec
-
 
 MINIMAL_CRYPTOGRAPHY_VERSION = '1.3'
 
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey.py b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey.py
index dc13107b7..36d50ae3c 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes
 
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.argspec import ArgumentSpec
+
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.basic import (
@@ -42,8 +44,6 @@
     get_privatekey_info,
 )
 
-from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.module_backends.common import ArgumentSpec
-
 
 MINIMAL_CRYPTOGRAPHY_VERSION = '1.2.3'
 
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey_convert.py b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey_convert.py
index fdcc901e0..4a1aca600 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey_convert.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/crypto/module_backends/privatekey_convert.py
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import missing_required_lib
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes
 
-from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.argspec import ArgumentSpec
 
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.io import (
     load_file,
 )
 
+from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.version import LooseVersion
+
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.basic import (
     CRYPTOGRAPHY_HAS_X25519,
     CRYPTOGRAPHY_HAS_X448,
@@ -37,8 +39,6 @@
     identify_private_key_format,
 )
 
-from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.crypto.module_backends.common import ArgumentSpec
-
 
 MINIMAL_CRYPTOGRAPHY_VERSION = '1.2.3'
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_account.py b/plugins/modules/acme_account.py
index a808c1962..960bad313 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_account.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_account.py
@@ -170,11 +170,9 @@
 
 import base64
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -189,8 +187,8 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec()
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec()
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         terms_agreed=dict(type='bool', default=False),
         state=dict(type='str', required=True, choices=['absent', 'present', 'changed_key']),
         allow_creation=dict(type='bool', default=True),
@@ -203,14 +201,9 @@ def main():
             alg=dict(type='str', required=True, choices=['HS256', 'HS384', 'HS512']),
             key=dict(type='str', required=True, no_log=True),
         ))
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
-        required_one_of=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
-        ),
+    )
+    argument_spec.update(
         mutually_exclusive=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
             ['new_account_key_src', 'new_account_key_content'],
         ),
         required_if=(
@@ -218,8 +211,8 @@ def main():
             # new_account_key_src and new_account_key_content are specified
             ['state', 'changed_key', ['new_account_key_src', 'new_account_key_content'], True],
         ),
-        supports_check_mode=True,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module(supports_check_mode=True)
     backend = create_backend(module, True)
 
     if module.params['external_account_binding']:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_account_info.py b/plugins/modules/acme_account_info.py
index fa999c2ac..33313fe75 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_account_info.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_account_info.py
@@ -214,11 +214,9 @@
   version_added: 1.5.0
 '''
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -271,20 +269,11 @@ def get_order(client, order_url):
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec()
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec()
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         retrieve_orders=dict(type='str', default='ignore', choices=['ignore', 'url_list', 'object_list']),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
-        required_one_of=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
-        ),
-        mutually_exclusive=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
-        ),
-        supports_check_mode=True,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module(supports_check_mode=True)
     backend = create_backend(module, True)
 
     try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_ari_info.py b/plugins/modules/acme_ari_info.py
index 7d0253625..7783236f0 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_ari_info.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_ari_info.py
@@ -98,11 +98,9 @@
       sample: '2024-04-29T01:17:10.236921+00:00'
 '''
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -110,21 +108,20 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec(with_account=False)
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec(with_account=False)
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         certificate_path=dict(type='path'),
         certificate_content=dict(type='str'),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
+    )
+    argument_spec.update(
         required_one_of=(
             ['certificate_path', 'certificate_content'],
         ),
         mutually_exclusive=(
             ['certificate_path', 'certificate_content'],
         ),
-        supports_check_mode=True,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module(supports_check_mode=True)
     backend = create_backend(module, True)
 
     try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate.py b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate.py
index d40d6e095..0272dd80c 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate.py
@@ -592,11 +592,9 @@
 
 import os
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -922,8 +920,8 @@ def deactivate_authzs(self):
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec()
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec()
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         modify_account=dict(type='bool', default=True),
         account_email=dict(type='str'),
         agreement=dict(type='str'),
@@ -947,20 +945,17 @@ def main():
             authority_key_identifier=dict(type='str'),
         )),
         include_renewal_cert_id=dict(type='str', choices=['never', 'when_ari_supported', 'always'], default='never'),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
+    )
+    argument_spec.update(
         required_one_of=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
             ['dest', 'fullchain_dest'],
             ['csr', 'csr_content'],
         ),
         mutually_exclusive=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
             ['csr', 'csr_content'],
         ),
-        supports_check_mode=True,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module(supports_check_mode=True)
     backend = create_backend(module, False)
 
     try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_deactivate_authz.py b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_deactivate_authz.py
index ffed04983..133f777d6 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_deactivate_authz.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_deactivate_authz.py
@@ -54,11 +54,9 @@
 
 RETURN = '''#'''
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -76,20 +74,11 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec()
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec()
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         order_uri=dict(type='str', required=True),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
-        required_one_of=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
-        ),
-        mutually_exclusive=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
-        ),
-        supports_check_mode=True,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module(supports_check_mode=True)
     if module.params['acme_version'] == 1:
         module.fail_json('The module does not support acme_version=1')
 
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_renewal_info.py b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_renewal_info.py
index c8a936870..1e2b16918 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_renewal_info.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_renewal_info.py
@@ -131,11 +131,9 @@
 import os
 import random
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -145,8 +143,8 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec(with_account=False)
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec(with_account=False)
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         certificate_path=dict(type='path'),
         certificate_content=dict(type='str'),
         use_ari=dict(type='bool', default=True),
@@ -154,14 +152,13 @@ def main():
         remaining_days=dict(type='int'),
         remaining_percentage=dict(type='float'),
         now=dict(type='str'),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
+    )
+    argument_spec.update(
         mutually_exclusive=(
             ['certificate_path', 'certificate_content'],
         ),
-        supports_check_mode=True,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module(supports_check_mode=True)
     backend = create_backend(module, True)
 
     result = dict(
@@ -223,13 +220,11 @@ def complete(should_renew, **kwargs):
                         ),
                     )
 
-        # TODO check remaining_days
         if module.params['remaining_days'] is not None:
             remaining_days = (cert_info.not_valid_after - now).days
             if remaining_days < module.params['remaining_days']:
                 complete(True, msg='The certificate expires in {0} days'.format(remaining_days))
 
-        # TODO check remaining_percentage
         if module.params['remaining_percentage'] is not None:
             timestamp = backend.interpolate_timestamp(cert_info.not_valid_before, cert_info.not_valid_after, 1 - module.params['remaining_percentage'])
             if timestamp < now:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_revoke.py b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_revoke.py
index 4a68cf341..2661a1525 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_revoke.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_certificate_revoke.py
@@ -128,11 +128,9 @@
 
 RETURN = '''#'''
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
-
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -153,24 +151,23 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec()
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec(require_account_key=False)
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         private_key_src=dict(type='path'),
         private_key_content=dict(type='str', no_log=True),
         private_key_passphrase=dict(type='str', no_log=True),
         certificate=dict(type='path', required=True),
         revoke_reason=dict(type='int'),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
+    )
+    argument_spec.update(
         required_one_of=(
             ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content', 'private_key_src', 'private_key_content'],
         ),
         mutually_exclusive=(
             ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content', 'private_key_src', 'private_key_content'],
         ),
-        supports_check_mode=False,
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module()
     backend = create_backend(module, False)
 
     try:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/acme_inspect.py b/plugins/modules/acme_inspect.py
index 2a4c5b935..c7ee49765 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/acme_inspect.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/acme_inspect.py
@@ -248,12 +248,11 @@
       - ...
 '''
 
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native, to_bytes, to_text
 
 from ansible_collections.community.crypto.plugins.module_utils.acme.acme import (
     create_backend,
-    get_default_argspec,
+    create_default_argspec,
     ACMEClient,
 )
 
@@ -264,18 +263,14 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    argument_spec = get_default_argspec()
-    argument_spec.update(dict(
+    argument_spec = create_default_argspec(require_account_key=False)
+    argument_spec.update_argspec(
         url=dict(type='str'),
         method=dict(type='str', choices=['get', 'post', 'directory-only'], default='get'),
         content=dict(type='str'),
         fail_on_acme_error=dict(type='bool', default=True),
-    ))
-    module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec=argument_spec,
-        mutually_exclusive=(
-            ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'],
-        ),
+    )
+    argument_spec.update(
         required_if=(
             ['method', 'get', ['url']],
             ['method', 'post', ['url', 'content']],
@@ -283,6 +278,7 @@ def main():
             ['method', 'post', ['account_key_src', 'account_key_content'], True],
         ),
     )
+    module = argument_spec.create_ansible_module()
     backend = create_backend(module, False)
 
     result = dict()