diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/Worker.java b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/Worker.java
index 3dc8c198f5c..73201b5add9 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/Worker.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/Worker.java
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ import org.apache.kafka.connect.connector.policy.ConnectorClientConfigOverridePo
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.connector.policy.ConnectorClientConfigRequest;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.errors.ConnectException;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.health.ConnectorType;
+import org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter;
+import org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverterConfig;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.runtime.ConnectMetrics.MetricGroup;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.runtime.distributed.ClusterConfigState;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.runtime.errors.DeadLetterQueueReporter;
@@ -147,17 +149,9 @@ public class Worker {
         this.connectorClientConfigOverridePolicy = connectorClientConfigOverridePolicy;
         this.workerMetricsGroup = new WorkerMetricsGroup(metrics);
 
-        // Internal converters are required properties, thus getClass won't return null.
-        this.internalKeyConverter = plugins.newConverter(
-                config,
-                WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG,
-                ClassLoaderUsage.PLUGINS
-        );
-        this.internalValueConverter = plugins.newConverter(
-                config,
-                WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG,
-                ClassLoaderUsage.PLUGINS
-        );
+        Map<String, String> internalConverterConfig = Collections.singletonMap(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG, "false");
+        this.internalKeyConverter = plugins.newInternalConverter(true, JsonConverter.class.getName(), internalConverterConfig);
+        this.internalValueConverter = plugins.newInternalConverter(false, JsonConverter.class.getName(), internalConverterConfig);
 
         this.offsetBackingStore = offsetBackingStore;
         this.offsetBackingStore.configure(config);
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConfig.java b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConfig.java
index 341582a3c9e..73b743bbe11 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConfig.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConfig.java
@@ -26,9 +26,6 @@ import org.apache.kafka.common.config.ConfigException;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.config.internals.BrokerSecurityConfigs;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.metrics.Sensor;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
-import org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter;
-import org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverterConfig;
-import org.apache.kafka.connect.storage.Converter;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.storage.SimpleHeaderConverter;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
@@ -97,36 +94,6 @@ public class WorkerConfig extends AbstractConfig {
                     " header values to strings and deserialize them by inferring the schemas.";
     public static final String HEADER_CONVERTER_CLASS_DEFAULT = SimpleHeaderConverter.class.getName();
 
-    /**
-     * @deprecated As of 2.0.0
-     */
-    @Deprecated
-    public static final String INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG = "internal.key.converter";
-    public static final String INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_DOC =
-            "Converter class used to convert between Kafka Connect format and the serialized form that is written to Kafka." +
-                    " This controls the format of the keys in messages written to or read from Kafka, and since this is" +
-                    " independent of connectors it allows any connector to work with any serialization format." +
-                    " Examples of common formats include JSON and Avro." +
-                    " This setting controls the format used for internal bookkeeping data used by the framework, such as" +
-                    " configs and offsets, so users can typically use any functioning Converter implementation." +
-                    " Deprecated; will be removed in an upcoming version.";
-
-    /**
-     * @deprecated As of 2.0.0
-     */
-    @Deprecated
-    public static final String INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG = "internal.value.converter";
-    public static final String INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_DOC =
-            "Converter class used to convert between Kafka Connect format and the serialized form that is written to Kafka." +
-                    " This controls the format of the values in messages written to or read from Kafka, and since this is" +
-                    " independent of connectors it allows any connector to work with any serialization format." +
-                    " Examples of common formats include JSON and Avro." +
-                    " This setting controls the format used for internal bookkeeping data used by the framework, such as" +
-                    " configs and offsets, so users can typically use any functioning Converter implementation." +
-                    " Deprecated; will be removed in an upcoming version.";
-
-    private static final Class<? extends Converter> INTERNAL_CONVERTER_DEFAULT = JsonConverter.class;
-
     public static final String TASK_SHUTDOWN_GRACEFUL_TIMEOUT_MS_CONFIG
             = "task.shutdown.graceful.timeout.ms";
     private static final String TASK_SHUTDOWN_GRACEFUL_TIMEOUT_MS_DOC =
@@ -275,10 +242,6 @@ public class WorkerConfig extends AbstractConfig {
                         Importance.HIGH, KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_DOC)
                 .define(VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, Type.CLASS,
                         Importance.HIGH, VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_DOC)
-                .define(INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, Type.CLASS, INTERNAL_CONVERTER_DEFAULT,
-                        Importance.LOW, INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_DOC)
-                .define(INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, Type.CLASS, INTERNAL_CONVERTER_DEFAULT,
-                        Importance.LOW, INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_DOC)
                 .define(TASK_SHUTDOWN_GRACEFUL_TIMEOUT_MS_CONFIG, Type.LONG,
                         TASK_SHUTDOWN_GRACEFUL_TIMEOUT_MS_DEFAULT, Importance.LOW,
                         TASK_SHUTDOWN_GRACEFUL_TIMEOUT_MS_DOC)
@@ -341,55 +304,24 @@ public class WorkerConfig extends AbstractConfig {
                 .withClientSslSupport();
     }
 
-    private void logInternalConverterDeprecationWarnings(Map<String, String> props) {
-        String[] deprecatedConfigs = new String[] {
-            INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG,
-            INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG
-        };
-        for (String config : deprecatedConfigs) {
-            if (props.containsKey(config)) {
-                Class<?> internalConverterClass = getClass(config);
-                logDeprecatedProperty(config, internalConverterClass.getCanonicalName(), INTERNAL_CONVERTER_DEFAULT.getCanonicalName(), null);
-                if (internalConverterClass.equals(INTERNAL_CONVERTER_DEFAULT)) {
-                    // log the properties for this converter ...
-                    for (Map.Entry<String, Object> propEntry : originalsWithPrefix(config + ".").entrySet()) {
-                        String prop = propEntry.getKey();
-                        String propValue = propEntry.getValue().toString();
-                        String defaultValue = JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG.equals(prop) ? "false" : null;
-                        logDeprecatedProperty(config + "." + prop, propValue, defaultValue, config);
-                    }
-                }
+    private void logInternalConverterRemovalWarnings(Map<String, String> props) {
+        List<String> removedProperties = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (String property : Arrays.asList("internal.key.converter", "internal.value.converter")) {
+            if (props.containsKey(property)) {
+                removedProperties.add(property);
             }
+            removedProperties.addAll(originalsWithPrefix(property + ".").keySet());
         }
-    }
-
-    private void logDeprecatedProperty(String propName, String propValue, String defaultValue, String prefix) {
-        String prefixNotice = prefix != null
-            ? " (along with all configuration for '" + prefix + "')"
-            : "";
-        if (defaultValue != null && defaultValue.equalsIgnoreCase(propValue)) {
-            log.info(
-                "Worker configuration property '{}'{} is deprecated and may be removed in an upcoming release. "
-                    + "The specified value '{}' matches the default, so this property can be safely removed from the worker configuration.",
-                propName,
-                prefixNotice,
-                propValue
-            );
-        } else if (defaultValue != null) {
+        if (!removedProperties.isEmpty()) {
             log.warn(
-                "Worker configuration property '{}'{} is deprecated and may be removed in an upcoming release. "
-                    + "The specified value '{}' does NOT match the default and recommended value '{}'.",
-                propName,
-                prefixNotice,
-                propValue,
-                defaultValue
-            );
-        } else {
-            log.warn(
-                "Worker configuration property '{}'{} is deprecated and may be removed in an upcoming release.",
-                propName,
-                prefixNotice
-            );
+                    "The worker has been configured with one or more internal converter properties ({}). "
+                            + "Support for these properties was deprecated in version 2.0 and removed in version 3.0, "
+                            + "and specifying them will have no effect. "
+                            + "Instead, an instance of the JsonConverter with schemas.enable "
+                            + "set to false will be used. For more information, please visit "
+                            + "http://kafka.apache.org/documentation/#upgrade and consult the upgrade notes"
+                            + "for the 3.0 release.",
+                    removedProperties);
         }
     }
 
@@ -432,7 +364,7 @@ public class WorkerConfig extends AbstractConfig {
 
     public WorkerConfig(ConfigDef definition, Map<String, String> props) {
         super(definition, props);
-        logInternalConverterDeprecationWarnings(props);
+        logInternalConverterRemovalWarnings(props);
         logPluginPathConfigProviderWarning(props);
     }
 
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/Plugins.java b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/Plugins.java
index 6ab8a766044..5ad8dac5681 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/Plugins.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/Plugins.java
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ import org.apache.kafka.connect.connector.ConnectRecord;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.connector.Connector;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.connector.Task;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.errors.ConnectException;
-import org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter;
-import org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverterConfig;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.runtime.WorkerConfig;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.storage.Converter;
 import org.apache.kafka.connect.storage.ConverterConfig;
@@ -121,12 +119,6 @@ public class Plugins {
         );
     }
 
-    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
-    protected static boolean isInternalConverter(String classPropertyName) {
-        return classPropertyName.equals(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG)
-            || classPropertyName.equals(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG);
-    }
-
     public static ClassLoader compareAndSwapLoaders(ClassLoader loader) {
         ClassLoader current = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
         if (!current.equals(loader)) {
@@ -238,11 +230,11 @@ public class Plugins {
      * @throws ConnectException if the {@link Converter} implementation class could not be found
      */
     public Converter newConverter(AbstractConfig config, String classPropertyName, ClassLoaderUsage classLoaderUsage) {
-        if (!config.originals().containsKey(classPropertyName) && !isInternalConverter(classPropertyName)) {
-            // This configuration does not define the converter via the specified property name, and
-            // it does not represent an internal converter (which has a default available)
+        if (!config.originals().containsKey(classPropertyName)) {
+            // This configuration does not define the converter via the specified property name
             return null;
         }
+
         Class<? extends Converter> klass = null;
         switch (classLoaderUsage) {
             case CURRENT_CLASSLOADER:
@@ -270,9 +262,7 @@ public class Plugins {
         }
 
         // Determine whether this is a key or value converter based upon the supplied property name ...
-        @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
-        final boolean isKeyConverter = WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG.equals(classPropertyName)
-                                     || WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG.equals(classPropertyName);
+        final boolean isKeyConverter = WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG.equals(classPropertyName);
 
         // Configure the Converter using only the old configuration mechanism ...
         String configPrefix = classPropertyName + ".";
@@ -280,22 +270,39 @@ public class Plugins {
         log.debug("Configuring the {} converter with configuration keys:{}{}",
                   isKeyConverter ? "key" : "value", System.lineSeparator(), converterConfig.keySet());
 
-        // Have to override schemas.enable from true to false for internal JSON converters
-        // Don't have to warn the user about anything since all deprecation warnings take place in the
-        // WorkerConfig class
-        if (JsonConverter.class.isAssignableFrom(klass) && isInternalConverter(classPropertyName)) {
-            // If they haven't explicitly specified values for internal.key.converter.schemas.enable
-            // or internal.value.converter.schemas.enable, we can safely default them to false
-            if (!converterConfig.containsKey(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG)) {
-                converterConfig.put(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG, false);
-            }
+        Converter plugin;
+        ClassLoader savedLoader = compareAndSwapLoaders(klass.getClassLoader());
+        try {
+            plugin = newPlugin(klass);
+            plugin.configure(converterConfig, isKeyConverter);
+        } finally {
+            compareAndSwapLoaders(savedLoader);
+        }
+        return plugin;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Load an internal converter, used by the worker for (de)serializing data in internal topics.
+     *
+     * @param isKey           whether the converter is a key converter
+     * @param className       the class name of the converter
+     * @param converterConfig the properties to configure the converter with
+     * @return the instantiated and configured {@link Converter}; never null
+     * @throws ConnectException if the {@link Converter} implementation class could not be found
+     */
+    public Converter newInternalConverter(boolean isKey, String className, Map<String, String> converterConfig) {
+        Class<? extends Converter> klass;
+        try {
+            klass = pluginClass(delegatingLoader, className, Converter.class);
+        } catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
+            throw new ConnectException("Failed to load internal converter class " + className);
         }
 
         Converter plugin;
         ClassLoader savedLoader = compareAndSwapLoaders(klass.getClassLoader());
         try {
             plugin = newPlugin(klass);
-            plugin.configure(converterConfig, isKeyConverter);
+            plugin.configure(converterConfig, isKey);
         } finally {
             compareAndSwapLoaders(savedLoader);
         }
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ConnectMetricsTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ConnectMetricsTest.java
index 31aca97e204..98bf8e023b3 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ConnectMetricsTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ConnectMetricsTest.java
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ public class ConnectMetricsTest {
     static {
         DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
     }
 
     private ConnectMetrics metrics;
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ErrorHandlingTaskTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ErrorHandlingTaskTest.java
index 33ebd3df391..c6f79fe2859 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ErrorHandlingTaskTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/ErrorHandlingTaskTest.java
@@ -191,10 +191,6 @@ public class ErrorHandlingTaskTest {
         Map<String, String> workerProps = new HashMap<>();
         workerProps.put("key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         workerProps.put("value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
         workerProps.put("offset.storage.file.filename", "/tmp/connect.offsets");
         workerProps.put(TOPIC_CREATION_ENABLE_CONFIG, String.valueOf(enableTopicCreation));
         pluginLoader = PowerMock.createMock(PluginClassLoader.class);
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/MockConnectMetrics.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/MockConnectMetrics.java
index fa49358baaf..4abbc64259e 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/MockConnectMetrics.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/MockConnectMetrics.java
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ public class MockConnectMetrics extends ConnectMetrics {
     static {
         DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_WORKER_CONFIG.put(CommonClientConfigs.METRIC_REPORTER_CLASSES_CONFIG, MockMetricsReporter.class.getName());
     }
 
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/SourceTaskOffsetCommitterTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/SourceTaskOffsetCommitterTest.java
index fb7ed82af73..278a73d16d4 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/SourceTaskOffsetCommitterTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/SourceTaskOffsetCommitterTest.java
@@ -67,10 +67,6 @@ public class SourceTaskOffsetCommitterTest extends ThreadedTest {
         Map<String, String> workerProps = new HashMap<>();
         workerProps.put("key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         workerProps.put("value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
         workerProps.put("offset.storage.file.filename", "/tmp/connect.offsets");
         workerProps.put("offset.flush.interval.ms",
                 Long.toString(DEFAULT_OFFSET_COMMIT_INTERVAL_MS));
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskTest.java
index b7492d31f50..651ef5b072b 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskTest.java
@@ -162,10 +162,6 @@ public class WorkerSinkTaskTest {
         Map<String, String> workerProps = new HashMap<>();
         workerProps.put("key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         workerProps.put("value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
         workerProps.put("offset.storage.file.filename", "/tmp/connect.offsets");
         workerConfig = new StandaloneConfig(workerProps);
         pluginLoader = PowerMock.createMock(PluginClassLoader.class);
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskThreadedTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskThreadedTest.java
index 7b4474bc656..5918747fd19 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskThreadedTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSinkTaskThreadedTest.java
@@ -133,10 +133,6 @@ public class WorkerSinkTaskThreadedTest extends ThreadedTest {
         Map<String, String> workerProps = new HashMap<>();
         workerProps.put("key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         workerProps.put("value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put("internal.key.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
-        workerProps.put("internal.value.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
         workerProps.put("offset.storage.file.filename", "/tmp/connect.offsets");
         pluginLoader = PowerMock.createMock(PluginClassLoader.class);
         workerConfig = new StandaloneConfig(workerProps);
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSourceTaskTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSourceTaskTest.java
index 4d358ca46b1..640c1d8259e 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSourceTaskTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerSourceTaskTest.java
@@ -190,10 +190,6 @@ public class WorkerSourceTaskTest extends ThreadedTest {
         Map<String, String> props = new HashMap<>();
         props.put("key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         props.put("value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        props.put("internal.key.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        props.put("internal.value.converter", "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        props.put("internal.key.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
-        props.put("internal.value.converter.schemas.enable", "false");
         props.put("offset.storage.file.filename", "/tmp/connect.offsets");
         props.put(TOPIC_CREATION_ENABLE_CONFIG, String.valueOf(enableTopicCreation));
         return props;
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerTest.java
index 171f16db996..fe89745bec7 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerTest.java
@@ -1420,17 +1420,17 @@ public class WorkerTest extends ThreadedTest {
 
         // Instantiate and configure internal
         EasyMock.expect(
-                plugins.newConverter(
-                        config,
-                        WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG,
-                        ClassLoaderUsage.PLUGINS
+                plugins.newInternalConverter(
+                        EasyMock.eq(true),
+                        EasyMock.anyString(),
+                        EasyMock.anyObject()
                 )
         ).andReturn(internalKeyConverter);
         EasyMock.expect(
-                plugins.newConverter(
-                        config,
-                        WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG,
-                        ClassLoaderUsage.PLUGINS
+                plugins.newInternalConverter(
+                        EasyMock.eq(false),
+                        EasyMock.anyString(),
+                        EasyMock.anyObject()
                 )
         ).andReturn(internalValueConverter);
         EasyMock.expectLastCall();
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/distributed/DistributedHerderTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/distributed/DistributedHerderTest.java
index 99c41e6ccb7..245bb754439 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/distributed/DistributedHerderTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/distributed/DistributedHerderTest.java
@@ -118,8 +118,6 @@ public class DistributedHerderTest {
         // The WorkerConfig base class has some required settings without defaults
         HERDER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         HERDER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        HERDER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        HERDER_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         HERDER_CONFIG.put(DistributedConfig.OFFSET_STORAGE_TOPIC_CONFIG, "connect-offsets");
     }
     private static final String MEMBER_URL = "memberUrl";
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/PluginsTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/PluginsTest.java
index 43081aa069a..5083a2d971e 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/PluginsTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/isolation/PluginsTest.java
@@ -77,10 +77,6 @@ public class PluginsTest {
         props.put("value.converter." + JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG, "true");
         props.put("key.converter.extra.config", "foo1");
         props.put("value.converter.extra.config", "foo2");
-        props.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, TestInternalConverter.class.getName());
-        props.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, TestInternalConverter.class.getName());
-        props.put("internal.key.converter.extra.config", "bar1");
-        props.put("internal.value.converter.extra.config", "bar2");
         props.put(WorkerConfig.HEADER_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, TestHeaderConverter.class.getName());
         props.put("header.converter.extra.config", "baz");
 
@@ -107,17 +103,9 @@ public class PluginsTest {
     @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
     @Test
     public void shouldInstantiateAndConfigureInternalConverters() {
-        instantiateAndConfigureInternalConverter(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, ClassLoaderUsage.CURRENT_CLASSLOADER);
-        // Validate schemas.enable is defaulted to false for internal converter
-        assertEquals(false, internalConverter.configs.get(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG));
-        // Validate internal converter properties can still be set
-        assertEquals("bar1", internalConverter.configs.get("extra.config"));
-
-        instantiateAndConfigureInternalConverter(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, ClassLoaderUsage.PLUGINS);
-        // Validate schemas.enable is defaulted to false for internal converter
-        assertEquals(false, internalConverter.configs.get(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG));
-        // Validate internal converter properties can still be set
-        assertEquals("bar2", internalConverter.configs.get("extra.config"));
+        instantiateAndConfigureInternalConverter(true, Collections.singletonMap(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG, "false"));
+        // Validate schemas.enable is set to false
+        assertEquals("false", internalConverter.configs.get(JsonConverterConfig.SCHEMAS_ENABLE_CONFIG));
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -375,8 +363,8 @@ public class PluginsTest {
         assertNotNull(headerConverter);
     }
 
-    protected void instantiateAndConfigureInternalConverter(String configPropName, ClassLoaderUsage classLoaderUsage) {
-        internalConverter = (TestInternalConverter) plugins.newConverter(config, configPropName, classLoaderUsage);
+    protected void instantiateAndConfigureInternalConverter(boolean isKey, Map<String, String> config) {
+        internalConverter = (TestInternalConverter) plugins.newInternalConverter(isKey, TestInternalConverter.class.getName(), config);
         assertNotNull(internalConverter);
     }
 
@@ -475,6 +463,7 @@ public class PluginsTest {
     public static class TestInternalConverter extends JsonConverter {
         public Map<String, ?> configs;
 
+        @Override
         public void configure(Map<String, ?> configs) {
             this.configs = configs;
             super.configure(configs);
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/RestServerTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/RestServerTest.java
index e69bffdbcf9..e889b888bf0 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/RestServerTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/RestServerTest.java
@@ -89,8 +89,6 @@ public class RestServerTest {
         workerProps.put(DistributedConfig.GROUP_ID_CONFIG, "connect-test-group");
         workerProps.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         workerProps.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        workerProps.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         workerProps.put(DistributedConfig.OFFSET_STORAGE_TOPIC_CONFIG, "connect-offsets");
         workerProps.put(WorkerConfig.LISTENERS_CONFIG, "HTTP://localhost:0");
 
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/util/SSLUtilsTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/util/SSLUtilsTest.java
index 8959a6c6e0b..b8ffbcffbed 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/util/SSLUtilsTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/rest/util/SSLUtilsTest.java
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ public class SSLUtilsTest {
         DEFAULT_CONFIG.put(DistributedConfig.GROUP_ID_CONFIG, "connect-test-group");
         DEFAULT_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_CONFIG.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_CONFIG.put(DistributedConfig.OFFSET_STORAGE_TOPIC_CONFIG, "connect-offsets");
     }
 
@@ -140,8 +138,6 @@ public class SSLUtilsTest {
         configMap.put(StandaloneConfig.OFFSET_STORAGE_FILE_FILENAME_CONFIG, "/tmp/offset/file");
         configMap.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         configMap.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        configMap.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        configMap.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         configMap.put("ssl.keystore.location", "/path/to/keystore");
         configMap.put("ssl.keystore.password", "123456");
         configMap.put("ssl.key.password", "123456");
@@ -170,8 +166,6 @@ public class SSLUtilsTest {
         configMap.put(StandaloneConfig.OFFSET_STORAGE_FILE_FILENAME_CONFIG, "/tmp/offset/file");
         configMap.put(WorkerConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         configMap.put(WorkerConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        configMap.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        configMap.put(WorkerConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         configMap.put("ssl.keystore.location", "/path/to/keystore");
         configMap.put("ssl.keystore.password", "123456");
         configMap.put("ssl.key.password", "123456");
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/FileOffsetBackingStoreTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/FileOffsetBackingStoreTest.java
index 571844d488d..9944a5d8f9b 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/FileOffsetBackingStoreTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/FileOffsetBackingStoreTest.java
@@ -64,8 +64,6 @@ public class FileOffsetBackingStoreTest {
         props.put(StandaloneConfig.OFFSET_STORAGE_FILE_FILENAME_CONFIG, tempFile.getAbsolutePath());
         props.put(StandaloneConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         props.put(StandaloneConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        props.put(StandaloneConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        props.put(StandaloneConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         config = new StandaloneConfig(props);
         store.configure(config);
         store.start();
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaConfigBackingStoreTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaConfigBackingStoreTest.java
index 0d4ff24d74c..662f0f8365c 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaConfigBackingStoreTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaConfigBackingStoreTest.java
@@ -89,8 +89,6 @@ public class KafkaConfigBackingStoreTest {
         DEFAULT_CONFIG_STORAGE_PROPS.put(CommonClientConfigs.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG, "broker1:9092,broker2:9093");
         DEFAULT_CONFIG_STORAGE_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_CONFIG_STORAGE_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_CONFIG_STORAGE_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_CONFIG_STORAGE_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_DISTRIBUTED_CONFIG = new DistributedConfig(DEFAULT_CONFIG_STORAGE_PROPS);
     }
 
diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaOffsetBackingStoreTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaOffsetBackingStoreTest.java
index 07eadc87893..cdce2a186a2 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaOffsetBackingStoreTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/storage/KafkaOffsetBackingStoreTest.java
@@ -82,8 +82,6 @@ public class KafkaOffsetBackingStoreTest {
         DEFAULT_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.STATUS_STORAGE_TOPIC_CONFIG, "status-topic");
         DEFAULT_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.INTERNAL_KEY_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
-        DEFAULT_PROPS.put(DistributedConfig.INTERNAL_VALUE_CONVERTER_CLASS_CONFIG, "org.apache.kafka.connect.json.JsonConverter");
         DEFAULT_DISTRIBUTED_CONFIG = new DistributedConfig(DEFAULT_PROPS);
 
     }
diff --git a/docs/upgrade.html b/docs/upgrade.html
index 4f2a3d8e08e..678984cf6b5 100644
--- a/docs/upgrade.html
+++ b/docs/upgrade.html
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@
         understood by brokers or version 2.5 or higher, so you must upgrade your kafka cluster to get the stronger semantics. Otherwise, you can just pass
         in <code>new ConsumerGroupMetadata(consumerGroupId)</code> to work with older brokers. See <a href="https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/x/zJONCg">KIP-732</a> for more details.
     </li>
+    <li>
+        The Connect <code>internal.key.converter</code> and <code>internal.value.converter</code> properties have been completely <a href="https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/x/2YDOCg">removed</a>.
+        The use of these Connect worker properties has been deprecated since version 2.0.0. 
+        Workers are now hardcoded to use the JSON converter with <code>schemas.enable</code> set to <code>false</code>. If your cluster has been using
+        a different internal key or value converter, you can follow the migration steps outlined in <a href="https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/x/2YDOCg">KIP-738</a>
+        to safely upgrade your Connect cluster to 3.0.
+    </li>
     <li> The Connect-based MirrorMaker (MM2) includes changes to support <code>IdentityReplicationPolicy</code>, enabling replication without renaming topics.
         The existing <code>DefaultReplicationPolicy</code> is still used by default, but identity replication can be enabled via the
         <code>replication.policy</code> configuration property. This is especially useful for users migrating from the older MirrorMaker (MM1), or for