diff --git a/rsa.go b/rsa.go
index bb71685..08de8a3 100644
--- a/rsa.go
+++ b/rsa.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"crypto"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"crypto/rsa"
-	"crypto/x509"
-	"encoding/pem"
 	"errors"
 )
 
@@ -60,7 +58,7 @@ func (m *SigningMethodRSA) Verify(signingString, signature string, key interface
 
 	switch k := key.(type) {
 	case []byte:
-		if rsaKey, err = m.parsePublicKey(k); err != nil {
+		if rsaKey, err = ParsePublicKeyFromPEM(k); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	case *rsa.PublicKey:
@@ -86,7 +84,7 @@ func (m *SigningMethodRSA) Sign(signingString string, key interface{}) (string,
 
 	switch k := key.(type) {
 	case []byte:
-		if rsaKey, err = m.parsePrivateKey(k); err != nil {
+		if rsaKey, err = ParsePrivateKeyFromPEM(k); err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
 	case *rsa.PrivateKey:
@@ -105,58 +103,3 @@ func (m *SigningMethodRSA) Sign(signingString string, key interface{}) (string,
 		return "", err
 	}
 }
-
-// Parse PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 public key
-func (m *SigningMethodRSA) parsePublicKey(key []byte) (*rsa.PublicKey, error) {
-	var err error
-
-	// Parse PEM block
-	var block *pem.Block
-	if block, _ = pem.Decode(key); block == nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("Invalid Key: Key must be PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 private key")
-	}
-
-	// Parse the key
-	var parsedKey interface{}
-	if parsedKey, err = x509.ParsePKIXPublicKey(block.Bytes); err != nil {
-		if cert, err := x509.ParseCertificate(block.Bytes); err == nil {
-			parsedKey = cert.PublicKey
-		} else {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	var pkey *rsa.PublicKey
-	var ok bool
-	if pkey, ok = parsedKey.(*rsa.PublicKey); !ok {
-		return nil, errors.New("Key is not a valid RSA public key")
-	}
-
-	return pkey, nil
-}
-
-// Parse PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 private key
-func (m *SigningMethodRSA) parsePrivateKey(key []byte) (*rsa.PrivateKey, error) {
-	var err error
-
-	// Parse PEM block
-	var block *pem.Block
-	if block, _ = pem.Decode(key); block == nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("Invalid Key: Key must be PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 private key")
-	}
-
-	var parsedKey interface{}
-	if parsedKey, err = x509.ParsePKCS1PrivateKey(block.Bytes); err != nil {
-		if parsedKey, err = x509.ParsePKCS8PrivateKey(block.Bytes); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	var pkey *rsa.PrivateKey
-	var ok bool
-	if pkey, ok = parsedKey.(*rsa.PrivateKey); !ok {
-		return nil, errors.New("Key is not a valid RSA private key")
-	}
-
-	return pkey, nil
-}
diff --git a/rsa_test.go b/rsa_test.go
index 7bbacf3..c0d7782 100644
--- a/rsa_test.go
+++ b/rsa_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestRSASign(t *testing.T) {
 func TestRSAVerifyWithPreParsedPrivateKey(t *testing.T) {
 	key, _ := ioutil.ReadFile("test/sample_key.pub")
 	method := GetSigningMethod("RS256").(*SigningMethodRSA)
-	parsedKey, err := method.parsePublicKey(key)
+	parsedKey, err := ParsePublicKeyFromPEM(key)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func TestRSAVerifyWithPreParsedPrivateKey(t *testing.T) {
 func TestRSAWithPreParsedPrivateKey(t *testing.T) {
 	key, _ := ioutil.ReadFile("test/sample_key")
 	method := GetSigningMethod("RS256").(*SigningMethodRSA)
-	parsedKey, err := method.parsePrivateKey(key)
+	parsedKey, err := ParsePrivateKeyFromPEM(key)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -115,31 +115,30 @@ func TestRSAKeyParsing(t *testing.T) {
 	key, _ := ioutil.ReadFile("test/sample_key")
 	pubKey, _ := ioutil.ReadFile("test/sample_key.pub")
 	badKey := []byte("All your base are belong to key")
-	method := GetSigningMethod("RS256").(*SigningMethodRSA)
 
 	// Test parsePrivateKey
-	if _, e := method.parsePrivateKey(key); e != nil {
+	if _, e := ParsePrivateKeyFromPEM(key); e != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Failed to parse valid private key: %v", e)
 	}
 
-	if k, e := method.parsePrivateKey(pubKey); e == nil {
+	if k, e := ParsePrivateKeyFromPEM(pubKey); e == nil {
 		t.Errorf("Parsed public key as valid private key: %v", k)
 	}
 
-	if k, e := method.parsePrivateKey(badKey); e == nil {
+	if k, e := ParsePrivateKeyFromPEM(badKey); e == nil {
 		t.Errorf("Parsed invalid key as valid private key: %v", k)
 	}
 
 	// Test parsePublicKey
-	if _, e := method.parsePublicKey(pubKey); e != nil {
+	if _, e := ParsePublicKeyFromPEM(pubKey); e != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Failed to parse valid public key: %v", e)
 	}
 
-	if k, e := method.parsePublicKey(key); e == nil {
+	if k, e := ParsePublicKeyFromPEM(key); e == nil {
 		t.Errorf("Parsed private key as valid public key: %v", k)
 	}
 
-	if k, e := method.parsePublicKey(badKey); e == nil {
+	if k, e := ParsePublicKeyFromPEM(badKey); e == nil {
 		t.Errorf("Parsed invalid key as valid private key: %v", k)
 	}
 
diff --git a/rsa_utils.go b/rsa_utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f108d76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rsa_utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package jwt
+
+import (
+	"crypto/rsa"
+	"crypto/x509"
+	"encoding/pem"
+	"errors"
+)
+
+// Parse PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 private key
+func ParsePrivateKeyFromPEM(key []byte) (*rsa.PrivateKey, error) {
+	var err error
+
+	// Parse PEM block
+	var block *pem.Block
+	if block, _ = pem.Decode(key); block == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("Invalid Key: Key must be PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 private key")
+	}
+
+	var parsedKey interface{}
+	if parsedKey, err = x509.ParsePKCS1PrivateKey(block.Bytes); err != nil {
+		if parsedKey, err = x509.ParsePKCS8PrivateKey(block.Bytes); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	var pkey *rsa.PrivateKey
+	var ok bool
+	if pkey, ok = parsedKey.(*rsa.PrivateKey); !ok {
+		return nil, errors.New("Key is not a valid RSA private key")
+	}
+
+	return pkey, nil
+}
+
+// Parse PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 public key
+func ParsePublicKeyFromPEM(key []byte) (*rsa.PublicKey, error) {
+	var err error
+
+	// Parse PEM block
+	var block *pem.Block
+	if block, _ = pem.Decode(key); block == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("Invalid Key: Key must be PEM encoded PKCS1 or PKCS8 private key")
+	}
+
+	// Parse the key
+	var parsedKey interface{}
+	if parsedKey, err = x509.ParsePKIXPublicKey(block.Bytes); err != nil {
+		if cert, err := x509.ParseCertificate(block.Bytes); err == nil {
+			parsedKey = cert.PublicKey
+		} else {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	var pkey *rsa.PublicKey
+	var ok bool
+	if pkey, ok = parsedKey.(*rsa.PublicKey); !ok {
+		return nil, errors.New("Key is not a valid RSA public key")
+	}
+
+	return pkey, nil
+}