diff --git a/pkg/cli/cmd/resourceprovider/create/create.go b/pkg/cli/cmd/resourceprovider/create/create.go
index da1e3cc91b..d34c282779 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/cmd/resourceprovider/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/cmd/resourceprovider/create/create.go
@@ -46,11 +46,14 @@ Resource providers are the entities that implement resource types such as 'Appli
 
 Creating a resource provider defines new resource types that can be used in applications.
 
-Input can be passed in using a file or inline JSON as the second argument. Prefix the input with '@' to indicate a file path.
+Input can be passed in using a JSON or YAML file using the --from-file option.
 `,
 		Example: `
-# Create a resource provider
+# Create a resource provider from YAML file
 rad resource-provider create --from-file /path/to/input.yaml
+
+# Create a resource provider from JSON file
+rad resource-provider create --from-file /path/to/input.json
 `,
 		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(0),
 		RunE: framework.RunCommand(runner),
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ rad resource-provider create --from-file /path/to/input.yaml
 	commonflags.AddWorkspaceFlag(cmd)
 	commonflags.AddFromFileFlagVar(cmd, &runner.ResourceProviderManifestFilePath)
 	_ = cmd.MarkFlagRequired("from-file")
-	_ = cmd.MarkFlagFilename("from-file", "yaml")
+	_ = cmd.MarkFlagFilename("from-file", "yaml", "json")
 
 	return cmd, runner
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cli/manifest/manifest_test.go b/pkg/cli/manifest/manifest_test.go
index 04e3c492c9..4ebdd300b4 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/manifest/manifest_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/manifest/manifest_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
-func TestReadFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestReadFileYAML(t *testing.T) {
 	expected := &ResourceProvider{
 		Name: "MyCompany.Resources",
 		Types: map[string]*ResourceType{
@@ -49,16 +49,43 @@ func TestReadFile_InvalidYAML(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Nil(t, result)
 }
 
-func TestReadFile_DuplicateKey(t *testing.T) {
+func TestReadFile_DuplicateKeyYAML(t *testing.T) {
 	// Errors in the yaml library are non-exported, so it's hard to test the exact error.
 	result, err := ReadFile("testdata/duplicate-key.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Nil(t, result)
 }
 
-func TestReadFile_MissingRequiredField(t *testing.T) {
+func TestReadFile_MissingRequiredFieldYAML(t *testing.T) {
 	// Errors in the yaml library are non-exported, so it's hard to test the exact error.
 	result, err := ReadFile("testdata/missing-required-field.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Nil(t, result)
 }
+
+func TestReadFileJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	expected := &ResourceProvider{
+		Name: "MyCompany.Resources",
+		Types: map[string]*ResourceType{
+			"testResources": {
+				APIVersions: map[string]*ResourceTypeAPIVersion{
+					"2025-01-01-preview": {
+						Schema:       map[string]any{},
+						Capabilities: []string{"Recipes"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	result, err := ReadFile("testdata/valid.json")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, expected, result)
+}
+
+func TestReadFile_MissingRequiredFieldJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	// Errors in the yaml library are non-exported, so it's hard to test the exact error.
+	result, err := ReadFile("testdata/missing-required-field.json")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, result)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cli/manifest/testdata/missing-required-field.json b/pkg/cli/manifest/testdata/missing-required-field.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c6ef38a2f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cli/manifest/testdata/missing-required-field.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "types": {
+    "testResources": {
+      "apiVersions": {
+        "2025-01-01-preview": {
+          "schema": {},
+          "capabilities": ["Recipes"]
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cli/manifest/testdata/valid.json b/pkg/cli/manifest/testdata/valid.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd6e1e5705
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cli/manifest/testdata/valid.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "name": "MyCompany.Resources",
+  "types": {
+    "testResources": {
+      "apiVersions": {
+        "2025-01-01-preview": {
+          "schema": {},
+          "capabilities": ["Recipes"]
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}