Index: modeshape-jcr/src/main/java/org/modeshape/jcr/JcrNodeTypeManager.java
===================================================================
--- modeshape-jcr/src/main/java/org/modeshape/jcr/JcrNodeTypeManager.java	(revision 1786)
+++ modeshape-jcr/src/main/java/org/modeshape/jcr/JcrNodeTypeManager.java	(working copy)
@@ -148,6 +148,29 @@ public class JcrNodeTypeManager implements NodeTypeManager {
     }
 
     /**
+     * Returns true if and only if the node type with the given name exists.
+     * <p>
+     * This is equivalent to the following code:
+     * 
+     * <pre>
+     * try {
+     *     getNodeType(nodeTypeName);
+     *     return true;
+     * } catch (NoSuchNodeTypeException nsnte) {
+     *     return false;
+     * }
+     * </pre>
+     * However, the implementation is slightly more efficient that the approach listed above.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @see RepositoryNodeTypeManager#hasNodeType(Name)
+     */
+    public boolean hasNodeType( String nodeTypeName ) {
+        Name ntName = context().getValueFactories().getNameFactory().create(nodeTypeName);
+        return repositoryTypeManager.hasNodeType(ntName);
+    }
+
+    /**
      * {@inheritDoc}
      * 
      * @see javax.jcr.nodetype.NodeTypeManager#getPrimaryNodeTypes()
Index: modeshape-jcr/src/main/java/org/modeshape/jcr/RepositoryNodeTypeManager.java
===================================================================
--- modeshape-jcr/src/main/java/org/modeshape/jcr/RepositoryNodeTypeManager.java	(revision 1786)
+++ modeshape-jcr/src/main/java/org/modeshape/jcr/RepositoryNodeTypeManager.java	(working copy)
@@ -275,6 +275,25 @@ class RepositoryNodeTypeManager {
     }
 
     /**
+     * Tests if the named node type is registered.
+     * <p>
+     * The return value of this method is equivalent to {@code getNodeType(nodeTypeName) != null}, although the implementation is
+     * marginally more efficient that this approach.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @param nodeTypeName the name of the node type to check
+     * @return true if a node type with the given name is registered, false otherwise
+     */
+    boolean hasNodeType( Name nodeTypeName ) {
+        try {
+            nodeTypeManagerLock.readLock().lock();
+            return nodeTypes.containsKey(nodeTypeName);
+        } finally {
+            nodeTypeManagerLock.readLock().unlock();
+        }
+    }
+    
+    /**
      * Searches the supplied primary node type and the mixin node types for a property definition that is the best match for the
      * given property name, property type, and value.
      * <p>
Index: modeshape-jcr/src/test/java/org/modeshape/jcr/JcrNodeTypeManagerTest.java
===================================================================
--- modeshape-jcr/src/test/java/org/modeshape/jcr/JcrNodeTypeManagerTest.java	(revision 1786)
+++ modeshape-jcr/src/test/java/org/modeshape/jcr/JcrNodeTypeManagerTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -206,4 +206,18 @@ public final class JcrNodeTypeManagerTest extends TestSuite {
 
         session.save();
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldReturnTrueForHasNodeTypeWithExistingNodeTypeName() throws Exception {
+        assertTrue(nodeTypeMgr.hasNodeType("nt:base"));
+        assertTrue(nodeTypeMgr.hasNodeType(HIERARCHY_NODE_TYPE));
+        assertTrue(nodeTypeMgr.hasNodeType(MIXIN1));
+
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void shouldReturnFalseForHasNodeTypeWithNonexistantNodeTypeName() throws Exception {
+        assertFalse(nodeTypeMgr.hasNodeType("someArgleBargle"));
+        assertFalse(nodeTypeMgr.hasNodeType(HIERARCHY_NODE_TYPE + "x"));
+    }
 }