diff --git a/auth/jwt/coverage_test.go b/auth/jwt/coverage_test.go
index 4ad9b64..059491e 100644
--- a/auth/jwt/coverage_test.go
+++ b/auth/jwt/coverage_test.go
@@ -1924,7 +1924,7 @@ func TestCov_NewIDTokenValidator(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCov_NewAccessTokenValidator(t *testing.T) {
-	v := NewAccessTokenValidator([]string{"iss"}, []string{"aud"}, nil)
+	v := NewAccessTokenValidator([]string{"iss"}, []string{"aud"})
 	if v.Checks&ChecksConfigured == 0 {
 		t.Fatal("expected ChecksConfigured")
 	}
@@ -1932,12 +1932,76 @@ func TestCov_NewAccessTokenValidator(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected CheckJTI and CheckClientID for access token")
 	}
 
-	v2 := NewAccessTokenValidator(nil, nil, nil)
+	v2 := NewAccessTokenValidator(nil, nil)
 	if v2.Checks&CheckIss != 0 {
 		t.Fatal("expected no CheckIss for nil iss")
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCov_NewAccessTokenValidator_Scopes(t *testing.T) {
+	iss := []string{"https://example.com"}
+	aud := []string{"https://api.example.com"}
+
+	t.Run("nil_no_scope_check", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// No scope args: CheckScope not set, scope claim not validated.
+		v := NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud)
+		if v.Checks&CheckScope != 0 {
+			t.Fatal("expected CheckScope not set for nil scopes")
+		}
+		if v.RequiredScopes != nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected nil RequiredScopes")
+		}
+		// Validate passes even with no scope claim.
+		claims := goodClaims()
+		claims.Scope = nil
+		claims.JTI = "jti-x"
+		if err := v.Validate(nil, claims, testNow); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected no error without scope check, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("empty_presence_only", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Empty spread: CheckScope set, any non-empty scope accepted.
+		v := NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud, []string{}...)
+		if v.Checks&CheckScope == 0 {
+			t.Fatal("expected CheckScope set for empty non-nil scopes")
+		}
+		if v.RequiredScopes == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected non-nil RequiredScopes")
+		}
+		// Validate passes when scope is present.
+		if err := v.Validate(nil, goodClaims(), testNow); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected no error with scope present, got %v", err)
+		}
+		// Validate fails when scope is absent.
+		claims := goodClaims()
+		claims.Scope = nil
+		err := v.Validate(nil, claims, testNow)
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrMissingClaim) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrMissingClaim for absent scope, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("specific_scope", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Specific scope: CheckScope set, token must contain "openid".
+		v := NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud, "openid")
+		if v.Checks&CheckScope == 0 {
+			t.Fatal("expected CheckScope set")
+		}
+		// Validate passes when scope contains "openid".
+		if err := v.Validate(nil, goodClaims(), testNow); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected no error, got %v", err)
+		}
+		// Validate fails when "openid" is absent from scope.
+		claims := goodClaims()
+		claims.Scope = SpaceDelimited{"profile"}
+		err := v.Validate(nil, claims, testNow)
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInsufficientScope) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInsufficientScope, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
 func TestCov_Validate_Unconfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	v := &Validator{} // zero value
 	err := v.Validate(nil, goodClaims(), testNow)
diff --git a/auth/jwt/doc.go b/auth/jwt/doc.go
index a45abff..0ecc328 100644
--- a/auth/jwt/doc.go
+++ b/auth/jwt/doc.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 // use [NewAccessTokenValidator] with [TokenClaims] (which includes the
 // client_id and scope fields):
 //
-//		v := jwt.NewAccessTokenValidator(issuers, audiences, relyingParties)
+//		v := jwt.NewAccessTokenValidator(issuers, audiences, "openid", "profile")
 //		if err := v.Validate(nil, &claims, time.Now()); err != nil { /* ... */ }
 //
 //	  - [NewAccessToken] creates a JWS with the correct "at+jwt" typ header
diff --git a/auth/jwt/validate.go b/auth/jwt/validate.go
index f24c675..0acad90 100644
--- a/auth/jwt/validate.go
+++ b/auth/jwt/validate.go
@@ -335,12 +335,16 @@ func NewIDTokenValidator(iss, aud, azp []string) *Validator {
 // Pass the allowed issuers and audiences, or nil to skip that check.
 // Use []string{"*"} to require the claim be present without restricting its value.
 //
-// Checks enabled by default: iss, exp, aud, sub, client_id, iat, jti. and scope.
-// Not checked: nbf, auth_time, and, azp.
-// Populate RequiredScopes to enforce specific scope values (overrides CheckScope).
+// Checks enabled by default: iss, exp, aud, sub, client_id, iat, jti, and scope.
+// requiredScopes controls scope validation:
+//   - no args: scope not checked
+//   - []string{}...: scope must be present (any value accepted)
+//   - "openid", "profile", ...: scope must contain all listed values
+//
+// Not checked: nbf, auth_time, azp.
 //
 // https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9068.html#section-2.2
-func NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud, scopes []string) *Validator {
+func NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud []string, requiredScopes ...string) *Validator {
 	checks := ChecksConfigured | CheckSub | CheckExp | CheckIAt | CheckJTI | CheckClientID
 	if iss != nil {
 		checks |= CheckIss
@@ -348,7 +352,7 @@ func NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud, scopes []string) *Validator {
 	if aud != nil {
 		checks |= CheckAud
 	}
-	if scopes != nil {
+	if requiredScopes != nil {
 		checks |= CheckScope
 	}
 	return &Validator{
@@ -356,7 +360,7 @@ func NewAccessTokenValidator(iss, aud, scopes []string) *Validator {
 		GracePeriod:    defaultGracePeriod,
 		Iss:            iss,
 		Aud:            aud,
-		RequiredScopes: scopes,
+		RequiredScopes: requiredScopes,
 	}
 }