diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/changelogs/update-as-plugin-install b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/changelogs/update-as-plugin-install
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9bb35a167c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/changelogs/update-as-plugin-install
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: minor
+Type: Add
+
+Add asynchronous plugin install and activation endpoints #8079
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/API/Plugins.php b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/API/Plugins.php
index 7e77396a59a..65541c2217a 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/API/Plugins.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/API/Plugins.php
@@ -51,6 +51,32 @@ class Plugins extends \WC_REST_Data_Controller {
 			)
 		);
 
+		register_rest_route(
+			$this->namespace,
+			'/' . $this->rest_base . '/install/status',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'methods'             => \WP_REST_Server::READABLE,
+					'callback'            => array( $this, 'get_installation_status' ),
+					'permission_callback' => array( $this, 'update_item_permissions_check' ),
+				),
+				'schema' => array( $this, 'get_item_schema' ),
+			)
+		);
+
+		register_rest_route(
+			$this->namespace,
+			'/' . $this->rest_base . '/install/status/(?P<job_id>[a-z0-9_\-]+)',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'methods'             => \WP_REST_Server::READABLE,
+					'callback'            => array( $this, 'get_job_installation_status' ),
+					'permission_callback' => array( $this, 'update_item_permissions_check' ),
+				),
+				'schema' => array( $this, 'get_item_schema' ),
+			)
+		);
+
 		register_rest_route(
 			$this->namespace,
 			'/' . $this->rest_base . '/active',
@@ -90,6 +116,32 @@ class Plugins extends \WC_REST_Data_Controller {
 			)
 		);
 
+		register_rest_route(
+			$this->namespace,
+			'/' . $this->rest_base . '/activate/status',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'methods'             => \WP_REST_Server::READABLE,
+					'callback'            => array( $this, 'get_activation_status' ),
+					'permission_callback' => array( $this, 'update_item_permissions_check' ),
+				),
+				'schema' => array( $this, 'get_item_schema' ),
+			)
+		);
+
+		register_rest_route(
+			$this->namespace,
+			'/' . $this->rest_base . '/activate/status/(?P<job_id>[a-z0-9_\-]+)',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'methods'             => \WP_REST_Server::READABLE,
+					'callback'            => array( $this, 'get_job_activation_status' ),
+					'permission_callback' => array( $this, 'update_item_permissions_check' ),
+				),
+				'schema' => array( $this, 'get_item_schema' ),
+			)
+		);
+
 		register_rest_route(
 			$this->namespace,
 			'/' . $this->rest_base . '/recommended-payment-plugins',
@@ -195,22 +247,6 @@ class Plugins extends \WC_REST_Data_Controller {
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Create an alert notification in response to an error installing a plugin.
-	 *
-	 * @todo This should be moved to a filter to make this API more generic and less plugin-specific.
-	 *
-	 * @param string $slug The slug of the plugin being installed.
-	 */
-	private function create_install_plugin_error_inbox_notification_for_jetpack_installs( $slug ) {
-		// Exit early if we're not installing the Jetpack or the WooCommerce Shipping & Tax plugins.
-		if ( 'jetpack' !== $slug && 'woocommerce-services' !== $slug ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		InstallJPAndWCSPlugins::possibly_add_note();
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Install the requested plugin.
 	 *
@@ -233,119 +269,60 @@ class Plugins extends \WC_REST_Data_Controller {
 	public function install_plugins( $request ) {
 		$plugins = explode( ',', $request['plugins'] );
 
-		/**
-		 * Filter the list of plugins to install.
-		 *
-		 * @param array $plugins A list of the plugins to install.
-		 */
-		$plugins = apply_filters( 'woocommerce_admin_plugins_pre_install', $plugins );
-
 		if ( empty( $request['plugins'] ) || ! is_array( $plugins ) ) {
 			return new \WP_Error( 'woocommerce_rest_invalid_plugins', __( 'Plugins must be a non-empty array.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), 404 );
 		}
 
-		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
-		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/admin.php';
-		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php';
-		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
-		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php';
-		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/class-plugin-upgrader.php';
+		if ( isset( $request['async'] ) && $request['async'] ) {
+			$job_id = PluginsHelper::schedule_install_plugins( $plugins );
 
-		$existing_plugins  = PluginsHelper::get_installed_plugins_paths();
-		$installed_plugins = array();
-		$results           = array();
-		$install_time      = array();
-		$errors            = new \WP_Error();
-
-		foreach ( $plugins as $plugin ) {
-			$slug = sanitize_key( $plugin );
-
-			if ( isset( $existing_plugins[ $slug ] ) ) {
-				$installed_plugins[] = $plugin;
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			$start_time = microtime( true );
-
-			$api = plugins_api(
-				'plugin_information',
-				array(
-					'slug'   => $slug,
-					'fields' => array(
-						'sections' => false,
-					),
-				)
+			return array(
+				'data'    => array(
+					'job_id'  => $job_id,
+					'plugins' => $plugins,
+				),
+				'message' => __( 'Plugin installation has been scheduled.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
 			);
-
-			if ( is_wp_error( $api ) ) {
-				$properties = array(
-					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
-					'error_message' => __( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed. Plugin API call failed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
-					'api'           => $api,
-					'slug'          => $slug,
-				);
-				wc_admin_record_tracks_event( 'install_plugin_error', $properties );
-
-				$this->create_install_plugin_error_inbox_notification_for_jetpack_installs( $slug );
-
-				$errors->add(
-					$plugin,
-					sprintf(
-						/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
-						__( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed. Plugin API call failed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
-						$slug
-					)
-				);
-
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			$upgrader                = new \Plugin_Upgrader( new \Automatic_Upgrader_Skin() );
-			$result                  = $upgrader->install( $api->download_link );
-			$results[ $plugin ]      = $result;
-			$install_time[ $plugin ] = round( ( microtime( true ) - $start_time ) * 1000 );
-
-			if ( is_wp_error( $result ) || is_null( $result ) ) {
-				$properties = array(
-					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
-					'error_message' => __( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
-					'slug'          => $slug,
-					'api'           => $api,
-					'upgrader'      => $upgrader,
-					'result'        => $result,
-				);
-				wc_admin_record_tracks_event( 'install_plugin_error', $properties );
-
-				$this->create_install_plugin_error_inbox_notification_for_jetpack_installs( $slug );
-
-				$errors->add(
-					$plugin,
-					sprintf(
-						/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
-						__( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed. Upgrader install failed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
-						$slug
-					)
-				);
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			$installed_plugins[] = $plugin;
 		}
 
+		$data = PluginsHelper::install_plugins( $plugins );
+
 		return array(
 			'data'    => array(
-				'installed'    => $installed_plugins,
-				'results'      => $results,
-				'install_time' => $install_time,
+				'installed'    => $data['installed'],
+				'results'      => $data['results'],
+				'install_time' => $data['time'],
 			),
-			'errors'  => $errors,
-			'success' => count( $errors->errors ) === 0,
-			'message' => count( $errors->errors ) === 0
+			'errors'  => $data['errors'],
+			'success' => count( $data['errors']->errors ) === 0,
+			'message' => count( $data['errors']->errors ) === 0
 				? __( 'Plugins were successfully installed.', 'woocommerce-admin' )
 				: __( 'There was a problem installing some of the requested plugins.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
 		);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns a list of recently scheduled installation jobs.
+	 *
+	 * @param  WP_REST_Request $request Full details about the request.
+	 * @return array Jobs.
+	 */
+	public function get_installation_status( $request ) {
+		return PluginsHelper::get_installation_status();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns a list of recently scheduled installation jobs.
+	 *
+	 * @param  WP_REST_Request $request Full details about the request.
+	 * @return array Job.
+	 */
+	public function get_job_installation_status( $request ) {
+		$job_id = $request->get_param( 'job_id' );
+		$jobs   = PluginsHelper::get_installation_status( $job_id );
+		return reset( $jobs );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns a list of active plugins in API format.
 	 *
@@ -384,68 +361,61 @@ class Plugins extends \WC_REST_Data_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_Error|array Plugin Status
 	 */
 	public function activate_plugins( $request ) {
-		$plugin_paths      = PluginsHelper::get_installed_plugins_paths();
-		$plugins           = explode( ',', $request['plugins'] );
-		$errors            = new \WP_Error();
-		$activated_plugins = array();
+		$plugins = explode( ',', $request['plugins'] );
 
 		if ( empty( $request['plugins'] ) || ! is_array( $plugins ) ) {
 			return new \WP_Error( 'woocommerce_rest_invalid_plugins', __( 'Plugins must be a non-empty array.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), 404 );
 		}
 
-		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
+		if ( isset( $request['async'] ) && $request['async'] ) {
+			$job_id = PluginsHelper::schedule_activate_plugins( $plugins );
 
-		// the mollie-payments-for-woocommerce plugin calls `WP_Filesystem()` during it's activation hook, which crashes without this include.
-		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/file.php';
-
-		/**
-		 * Filter the list of plugins to activate.
-		 *
-		 * @param array $plugins A list of the plugins to activate.
-		 */
-		$plugins = apply_filters( 'woocommerce_admin_plugins_pre_activate', $plugins );
-
-		foreach ( $plugins as $plugin ) {
-			$slug = $plugin;
-			$path = isset( $plugin_paths[ $slug ] ) ? $plugin_paths[ $slug ] : false;
-
-			if ( ! $path ) {
-				$errors->add(
-					$plugin,
-					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
-					sprintf( __( 'The requested plugin `%s`. is not yet installed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), $slug )
-				);
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			$result = activate_plugin( $path );
-			if ( ! is_null( $result ) ) {
-				$this->create_install_plugin_error_inbox_notification_for_jetpack_installs( $slug );
-
-				$errors->add(
-					$plugin,
-					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
-					sprintf( __( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be activated.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), $slug )
-				);
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			$activated_plugins[] = $plugin;
+			return array(
+				'data'    => array(
+					'job_id'  => $job_id,
+					'plugins' => $plugins,
+				),
+				'message' => __( 'Plugin activation has been scheduled.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
+			);
 		}
 
+		$data = PluginsHelper::activate_plugins( $plugins );
+
 		return( array(
 			'data'    => array(
-				'activated' => $activated_plugins,
-				'active'    => self::get_active_plugins(),
+				'activated' => $data['activated'],
+				'active'    => $data['active'],
 			),
-			'errors'  => $errors,
-			'success' => count( $errors->errors ) === 0,
-			'message' => count( $errors->errors ) === 0
+			'errors'  => $data['errors'],
+			'success' => count( $data['errors']->errors ) === 0,
+			'message' => count( $data['errors']->errors ) === 0
 				? __( 'Plugins were successfully activated.', 'woocommerce-admin' )
 				: __( 'There was a problem activating some of the requested plugins.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
 		) );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns a list of recently scheduled activation jobs.
+	 *
+	 * @param  WP_REST_Request $request Full details about the request.
+	 * @return array Job.
+	 */
+	public function get_activation_status( $request ) {
+		return PluginsHelper::get_activation_status();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns a list of recently scheduled activation jobs.
+	 *
+	 * @param  WP_REST_Request $request Full details about the request.
+	 * @return array Jobs.
+	 */
+	public function get_job_activation_status( $request ) {
+		$job_id = $request->get_param( 'job_id' );
+		$jobs   = PluginsHelper::get_activation_status( $job_id );
+		return reset( $jobs );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Return recommended payment plugins.
 	 *
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/FeaturePlugin.php b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/FeaturePlugin.php
index 112c4a7ecfd..e18455feebb 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/FeaturePlugin.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/FeaturePlugin.php
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ class FeaturePlugin {
 
 		// Initialize Plugins Installer.
 		PluginsInstaller::init();
+		PluginsHelper::init();
 
 		// Initialize API.
 		API\Init::instance();
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/Notes/InstallJPAndWCSPlugins.php b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/Notes/InstallJPAndWCSPlugins.php
index ed25910b215..44ec762306c 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/Notes/InstallJPAndWCSPlugins.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/Notes/InstallJPAndWCSPlugins.php
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class InstallJPAndWCSPlugins {
 	public function __construct() {
 		add_action( 'woocommerce_note_action_install-jp-and-wcs-plugins', array( $this, 'install_jp_and_wcs_plugins' ) );
 		add_action( 'activated_plugin', array( $this, 'action_note' ) );
+		add_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_install_api_error', array( $this, 'on_install_error' ) );
+		add_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_install_error', array( $this, 'on_install_error' ) );
+		add_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_activate_error', array( $this, 'on_install_error' ) );
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -123,4 +126,18 @@ class InstallJPAndWCSPlugins {
 
 		$installer->activate_plugins( $activate_request );
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Create an alert notification in response to an error installing a plugin.
+	 *
+	 * @param string $slug The slug of the plugin being installed.
+	 */
+	public function on_install_error( $slug ) {
+		// Exit early if we're not installing the Jetpack or the WooCommerce Shipping & Tax plugins.
+		if ( 'jetpack' !== $slug && 'woocommerce-services' !== $slug ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		self::possibly_add_note();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/PluginsHelper.php b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/PluginsHelper.php
index 7ce11b34dc7..8c44e8959b2 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/PluginsHelper.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/src/PluginsHelper.php
@@ -18,6 +18,14 @@ if ( ! function_exists( 'get_plugins' ) ) {
  */
 class PluginsHelper {
 
+	/**
+	 * Initialize hooks.
+	 */
+	public static function init() {
+		add_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_install_callback', array( __CLASS__, 'install_plugins' ), 10, 2 );
+		add_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_activate_callback', array( __CLASS__, 'activate_plugins' ), 10, 2 );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Get the path to the plugin file relative to the plugins directory from the plugin slug.
 	 *
@@ -131,4 +139,279 @@ class PluginsHelper {
 		return isset( $plugins[ $plugin_path ] ) ? $plugins[ $plugin_path ] : false;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Install an array of plugins.
+	 *
+	 * @param array $plugins Plugins to install.
+	 * @return array
+	 */
+	public static function install_plugins( $plugins ) {
+		/**
+		 * Filter the list of plugins to install.
+		 *
+		 * @param array $plugins A list of the plugins to install.
+		 */
+		$plugins = apply_filters( 'woocommerce_admin_plugins_pre_install', $plugins );
+
+		if ( empty( $plugins ) || ! is_array( $plugins ) ) {
+			return new \WP_Error( 'woocommerce_plugins_invalid_plugins', __( 'Plugins must be a non-empty array.', 'woocommerce-admin' ) );
+		}
+
+		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
+		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/admin.php';
+		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php';
+		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
+		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php';
+		include_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/class-plugin-upgrader.php';
+
+		$existing_plugins  = self::get_installed_plugins_paths();
+		$installed_plugins = array();
+		$results           = array();
+		$time              = array();
+		$errors            = new \WP_Error();
+
+		foreach ( $plugins as $plugin ) {
+			$slug = sanitize_key( $plugin );
+
+			if ( isset( $existing_plugins[ $slug ] ) ) {
+				$installed_plugins[] = $plugin;
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			$start_time = microtime( true );
+
+			$api = plugins_api(
+				'plugin_information',
+				array(
+					'slug'   => $slug,
+					'fields' => array(
+						'sections' => false,
+					),
+				)
+			);
+
+			if ( is_wp_error( $api ) ) {
+				$properties = array(
+					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
+					'error_message' => __( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed. Plugin API call failed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
+					'api'           => $api,
+					'slug'          => $slug,
+				);
+				wc_admin_record_tracks_event( 'install_plugin_error', $properties );
+
+				do_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_install_api_error', $slug, $api );
+
+				$errors->add(
+					$plugin,
+					sprintf(
+						/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
+						__( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed. Plugin API call failed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
+						$slug
+					)
+				);
+
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			$upgrader           = new \Plugin_Upgrader( new \Automatic_Upgrader_Skin() );
+			$result             = $upgrader->install( $api->download_link );
+			$results[ $plugin ] = $result;
+			$time[ $plugin ]    = round( ( microtime( true ) - $start_time ) * 1000 );
+
+			if ( is_wp_error( $result ) || is_null( $result ) ) {
+				$properties = array(
+					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
+					'error_message' => __( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
+					'slug'          => $slug,
+					'api'           => $api,
+					'upgrader'      => $upgrader,
+					'result'        => $result,
+				);
+				wc_admin_record_tracks_event( 'install_plugin_error', $properties );
+
+				do_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_install_error', $slug, $api, $result, $upgrader );
+
+				$errors->add(
+					$plugin,
+					sprintf(
+						/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
+						__( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be installed. Upgrader install failed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ),
+						$slug
+					)
+				);
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			$installed_plugins[] = $plugin;
+		}
+
+		$data = array(
+			'installed' => $installed_plugins,
+			'results'   => $results,
+			'errors'    => $errors,
+			'time'      => $time,
+		);
+
+		return $data;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Schedule plugin installation.
+	 *
+	 * @param array $plugins Plugins to install.
+	 * @return string Job ID.
+	 */
+	public static function schedule_install_plugins( $plugins ) {
+		if ( empty( $plugins ) || ! is_array( $plugins ) ) {
+			return new \WP_Error( 'woocommerce_plugins_invalid_plugins', __( 'Plugins must be a non-empty array.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), 404 );
+		}
+
+		$job_id = uniqid();
+		WC()->queue()->schedule_single( time() + 5, 'woocommerce_plugins_install_callback', array( $plugins, $job_id ) );
+
+		return $job_id;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Activate the requested plugins.
+	 *
+	 * @param array $plugins Plugins.
+	 * @return WP_Error|array Plugin Status
+	 */
+	public static function activate_plugins( $plugins ) {
+		if ( empty( $plugins ) || ! is_array( $plugins ) ) {
+			return new \WP_Error( 'woocommerce_plugins_invalid_plugins', __( 'Plugins must be a non-empty array.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), 404 );
+		}
+
+		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
+
+		// the mollie-payments-for-woocommerce plugin calls `WP_Filesystem()` during it's activation hook, which crashes without this include.
+		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/file.php';
+
+		/**
+		 * Filter the list of plugins to activate.
+		 *
+		 * @param array $plugins A list of the plugins to activate.
+		 */
+		$plugins = apply_filters( 'woocommerce_admin_plugins_pre_activate', $plugins );
+
+		$plugin_paths      = self::get_installed_plugins_paths();
+		$errors            = new \WP_Error();
+		$activated_plugins = array();
+
+		foreach ( $plugins as $plugin ) {
+			$slug = $plugin;
+			$path = isset( $plugin_paths[ $slug ] ) ? $plugin_paths[ $slug ] : false;
+
+			if ( ! $path ) {
+				$errors->add(
+					$plugin,
+					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
+					sprintf( __( 'The requested plugin `%s`. is not yet installed.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), $slug )
+				);
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			$result = activate_plugin( $path );
+			if ( ! is_null( $result ) ) {
+				do_action( 'woocommerce_plugins_activate_error', $slug, $result );
+
+				$errors->add(
+					$plugin,
+					/* translators: %s: plugin slug (example: woocommerce-services) */
+					sprintf( __( 'The requested plugin `%s` could not be activated.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), $slug )
+				);
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			$activated_plugins[] = $plugin;
+		}
+
+		$data = array(
+			'activated' => $activated_plugins,
+			'active'    => self::get_active_plugin_slugs(),
+			'errors'    => $errors,
+		);
+
+		return $data;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Schedule plugin activation.
+	 *
+	 * @param array $plugins Plugins to activate.
+	 * @return string Job ID.
+	 */
+	public static function schedule_activate_plugins( $plugins ) {
+		if ( empty( $plugins ) || ! is_array( $plugins ) ) {
+			return new \WP_Error( 'woocommerce_plugins_invalid_plugins', __( 'Plugins must be a non-empty array.', 'woocommerce-admin' ), 404 );
+		}
+
+		$job_id = uniqid();
+		WC()->queue()->schedule_single( time() + 5, 'woocommerce_plugins_activate_callback', array( $plugins, $job_id ) );
+
+		return $job_id;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Installation status.
+	 *
+	 * @param int $job_id Job ID.
+	 * @return array Job data.
+	 */
+	public static function get_installation_status( $job_id = null ) {
+		$actions = WC()->queue()->search(
+			array(
+				'hook'    => 'woocommerce_plugins_install_callback',
+				'search'  => $job_id,
+				'orderby' => 'date',
+				'order'   => 'DESC',
+			)
+		);
+
+		return self::get_action_data( $actions );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Gets the plugin data for the first action.
+	 *
+	 * @param array $actions Array of AS actions.
+	 * @return array Array of action data.
+	 */
+	public static function get_action_data( $actions ) {
+		$data = [];
+
+		foreach ( $actions as $action_id => $action ) {
+			$store  = new \ActionScheduler_DBStore();
+			$status = $store->get_status( $action_id );
+			$args   = $action->get_args();
+			$data[] = array(
+				'job_id'  => $args[1],
+				'plugins' => $args[0],
+				'status'  => $store->get_status( $action_id ),
+			);
+		}
+
+		return $data;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Activation status.
+	 *
+	 * @param int $job_id Job ID.
+	 * @return array Array of action data.
+	 */
+	public static function get_activation_status( $job_id = null ) {
+		$actions = WC()->queue()->search(
+			array(
+				'hook'    => 'woocommerce_plugins_activate_callback',
+				'search'  => $job_id,
+				'orderby' => 'date',
+				'order'   => 'DESC',
+			)
+		);
+
+		return self::get_action_data( $actions );
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/tests/api/plugins.php b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/tests/api/plugins.php
index c0b28d209a9..cc443599858 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/tests/api/plugins.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/tests/api/plugins.php
@@ -63,6 +63,27 @@ class WC_Tests_API_Plugins extends WC_REST_Unit_Test_Case {
 		$this->assertArrayHasKey( 'facebook-for-woocommerce/facebook-for-woocommerce.php', $plugins );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Test that scheduling a plugin install works.
+	 */
+	public function test_install_plugin_async() {
+		wp_set_current_user( $this->user );
+
+		$request = new WP_REST_Request( 'POST', $this->endpoint . '/install' );
+		$request->set_query_params(
+			array(
+				'async'   => true,
+				'plugins' => 'facebook-for-woocommerce',
+			)
+		);
+		$response = $this->server->dispatch( $request );
+		$data     = $response->get_data();
+		$plugins  = get_plugins();
+
+		$this->assertEquals( 200, $response->get_status() );
+		$this->assertArrayHasKey( 'job_id', $data['data'] );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Test that installing with invalid params fails.
 	 */
@@ -98,6 +119,27 @@ class WC_Tests_API_Plugins extends WC_REST_Unit_Test_Case {
 		$this->assertContains( 'facebook-for-woocommerce', $active_plugins );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Test that scheduling a plugin activation works.
+	 */
+	public function test_activate_plugin_async() {
+		wp_set_current_user( $this->user );
+
+		$request = new WP_REST_Request( 'POST', $this->endpoint . '/activate' );
+		$request->set_query_params(
+			array(
+				'async'   => true,
+				'plugins' => 'facebook-for-woocommerce',
+			)
+		);
+		$response = $this->server->dispatch( $request );
+		$data     = $response->get_data();
+		$plugins  = get_plugins();
+
+		$this->assertEquals( 200, $response->get_status() );
+		$this->assertArrayHasKey( 'job_id', $data['data'] );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Test that activating with invalid params fails.
 	 */