diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py
index 666724e357af..f0e1c546b330 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def __init__(
     SupportedFieldType('weight'),
     SupportedFieldType('show_correctness'),
     SupportedFieldType('hide_from_toc'),
+    SupportedFieldType('icon_class'),
     # 'student_view_data'
     SupportedFieldType(StudentViewTransformer.STUDENT_VIEW_DATA, StudentViewTransformer),
     # 'student_view_multi_device'
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py
index 81dc388aa1de..cbfc398d8175 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py
@@ -54,7 +54,15 @@ def collect(cls, block_structure):
         transform method.
         """
         # collect basic xblock fields
-        block_structure.request_xblock_fields('graded', 'format', 'display_name', 'category', 'due', 'show_correctness')
+        block_structure.request_xblock_fields(
+            'graded',
+            'format',
+            'display_name',
+            'category',
+            'due',
+            'show_correctness',
+            'icon_class',
+        )
 
         # collect data from containing transformers
         StudentViewTransformer.collect(block_structure)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/serializers.py
index 83b8a9729eb0..593f012fe691 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/serializers.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def get_vertical_icon_class(block):
             video
         """
         children = block.get('children', [])
-        child_classes = {child.get('type') for child in children}
+        child_classes = {value for child in children for value in (child.get('type'), child.get('icon_class'))}
         if 'problem' in child_classes:
             return 'problem'
         if 'video' in child_classes:
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/tests/test_view.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/tests/test_view.py
index 4f40d9a80192..2a4d1e65a5e1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/tests/test_view.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/tests/test_view.py
@@ -796,3 +796,33 @@ def test_blocks_completion_stat_all_problem_completed(self):
         assert vertical_data['complete']
         assert sequence_data['completion_stat'] == expected_sequence_completion_stat
         assert vertical_data['completion_stat'] == expected_vertical_completion_stat
+
+    @ddt.data(
+        (['html'], 'other'),
+        (['html', 'video'], 'video'),
+        (['html', 'video', 'problem'], 'problem'),
+    )
+    @ddt.unpack
+    def test_vertical_icon(self, block_categories, expected_icon):
+        """Test that the API checks the children `category` to determine the icon for the unit."""
+        self.add_blocks_to_course()
+        CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.user, self.course.id)
+
+        for category in block_categories:
+            BlockFactory.create(parent=self.vertical, category=category)
+
+        response = self.client.get(reverse('course-home:course-navigation', args=[self.course.id]))
+        vertical_data = response.data['blocks'][str(self.vertical.location)]
+
+        assert vertical_data['icon'] == expected_icon
+
+    @patch('xmodule.html_block.HtmlBlock.icon_class', 'video')
+    def test_vertical_icon_determined_by_icon_class(self):
+        """Test that the API checks the children `icon_class` to determine the icon for the unit."""
+        self.add_blocks_to_course()
+        CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.user, self.course.id)
+
+        BlockFactory.create(parent=self.vertical, category='html')
+        response = self.client.get(reverse('course-home:course-navigation', args=[self.course.id]))
+        vertical_data = response.data['blocks'][str(self.vertical.location)]
+        assert vertical_data['icon'] == 'video'
diff --git a/openedx/features/course_experience/utils.py b/openedx/features/course_experience/utils.py
index 769bb8bad082..c20b7f077136 100644
--- a/openedx/features/course_experience/utils.py
+++ b/openedx/features/course_experience/utils.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ def recurse_mark_auth_denial(block):
             'complete',
             'resume_block',
             'hide_from_toc',
+            'icon_class',
         ],
         allow_start_dates_in_future=allow_start_dates_in_future,
     )