diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 905eb249b43..77cf87b1343 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 - Spans created by the global `Tracer` obtained from `go.opentelemetry.io/otel`, prior to a functioning `TracerProvider` being set, now propagate the span context from their parent if one exists. (#1901)
 - The `"go.opentelemetry.io/otel".Tracer` function now accepts tracer options. (#1902)
 - Move the `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/unit` package to `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric/unit`. (#1903)
+- Changed `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace.TracerConfig` to conform to the [Contributing guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md#config.) (#1921)
+- Changed `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace.SpanConfig` to conform to the [Contributing guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md#config). (#1921)
+- Changed `span.End()` now only accepts Options that are allowed at `end()`. (#1921)
+- Changed `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric.InstrumentConfig` to conform to the [Contributing guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md#config). (#1921)
+- Changed `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric.MeterConfig` to conform to the [Contributing guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md#config). (#1921)
 - Refactor option types according to the contribution style guide. (#1882)
 - Move the `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace.TraceStateFromKeyValues` function to the `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/oteltest` package.
   This function is preserved for testing purposes where it may be useful to create a `TraceState` from `attribute.KeyValue`s, but it is not intended for production use.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ded63f87121..eec0975eb5a 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -190,8 +190,16 @@ will likely want to build custom options for the configuration, the `config`
 should be exported. Please, include in the documentation for the `config`
 how the user can extend the configuration.
 
-It is important that `config` are not shared across package boundaries.
-Meaning a `config` from one package should not be directly used by another.
+It is important that internal `config` are not shared across package boundaries.
+Meaning a `config` from one package should not be directly used by another. The
+one exception is the API packages.  The configs from the base API, eg.
+`go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace.TracerConfig` and
+`go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric.InstrumentConfig`, are intended to be consumed
+by the SDK therefor it is expected that these are exported.
+
+When a config is exported we want to maintain forward and backward
+compatibility, to achieve this no fields should be exported but should
+instead be accessed by methods.
 
 Optionally, it is common to include a `newConfig` function (with the same
 naming scheme). This function wraps any defaults setting and looping over
diff --git a/bridge/opencensus/bridge.go b/bridge/opencensus/bridge.go
index b63fb94ec2e..ecf1d5181ca 100644
--- a/bridge/opencensus/bridge.go
+++ b/bridge/opencensus/bridge.go
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ func (o *otelTracer) StartSpan(ctx context.Context, name string, s ...octrace.St
 	return ctx, octrace.NewSpan(&span{otSpan: sp})
 }
 
-func convertStartOptions(optFns []octrace.StartOption, name string) []trace.SpanOption {
+func convertStartOptions(optFns []octrace.StartOption, name string) []trace.SpanStartOption {
 	var ocOpts octrace.StartOptions
 	for _, fn := range optFns {
 		fn(&ocOpts)
 	}
-	otOpts := []trace.SpanOption{}
+	otOpts := []trace.SpanStartOption{}
 	switch ocOpts.SpanKind {
 	case octrace.SpanKindClient:
 		otOpts = append(otOpts, trace.WithSpanKind(trace.SpanKindClient))
diff --git a/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go b/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go
index a6af1fdf1aa..316ddd8764e 100644
--- a/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go
+++ b/bridge/opentracing/bridge.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func (s *bridgeSpan) Finish() {
 }
 
 func (s *bridgeSpan) FinishWithOptions(opts ot.FinishOptions) {
-	var otelOpts []trace.SpanOption
+	var otelOpts []trace.SpanEndOption
 
 	if !opts.FinishTime.IsZero() {
 		otelOpts = append(otelOpts, trace.WithTimestamp(opts.FinishTime))
diff --git a/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go b/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go
index e57d9129b85..11198805063 100644
--- a/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go
+++ b/bridge/opentracing/internal/mock.go
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ func NewMockTracer() *MockTracer {
 	}
 }
 
-func (t *MockTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
-	config := trace.NewSpanConfig(opts...)
-	startTime := config.Timestamp
+func (t *MockTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+	config := trace.NewSpanStartConfig(opts...)
+	startTime := config.Timestamp()
 	if startTime.IsZero() {
 		startTime = time.Now()
 	}
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@ func (t *MockTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanO
 		officialTracer: t,
 		spanContext:    spanContext,
 		Attributes: baggage.NewMap(baggage.MapUpdate{
-			MultiKV: config.Attributes,
+			MultiKV: config.Attributes(),
 		}),
 		StartTime:    startTime,
 		EndTime:      time.Time{},
 		ParentSpanID: t.getParentSpanID(ctx, config),
 		Events:       nil,
-		SpanKind:     trace.ValidateSpanKind(config.SpanKind),
+		SpanKind:     trace.ValidateSpanKind(config.SpanKind()),
 	}
 	if !migration.SkipContextSetup(ctx) {
 		ctx = trace.ContextWithSpan(ctx, span)
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func (t *MockTracer) getParentSpanID(ctx context.Context, config *trace.SpanConf
 }
 
 func (t *MockTracer) getParentSpanContext(ctx context.Context, config *trace.SpanConfig) trace.SpanContext {
-	if !config.NewRoot {
+	if !config.NewRoot() {
 		return trace.SpanContextFromContext(ctx)
 	}
 	return trace.SpanContext{}
@@ -232,12 +232,12 @@ func (s *MockSpan) applyUpdate(update baggage.MapUpdate) {
 	s.Attributes = s.Attributes.Apply(update)
 }
 
-func (s *MockSpan) End(options ...trace.SpanOption) {
+func (s *MockSpan) End(options ...trace.SpanEndOption) {
 	if !s.EndTime.IsZero() {
 		return // already finished
 	}
-	config := trace.NewSpanConfig(options...)
-	endTime := config.Timestamp
+	config := trace.NewSpanEndConfig(options...)
+	endTime := config.Timestamp()
 	if endTime.IsZero() {
 		endTime = time.Now()
 	}
@@ -269,10 +269,10 @@ func (s *MockSpan) Tracer() trace.Tracer {
 func (s *MockSpan) AddEvent(name string, o ...trace.EventOption) {
 	c := trace.NewEventConfig(o...)
 	s.Events = append(s.Events, MockEvent{
-		Timestamp: c.Timestamp,
+		Timestamp: c.Timestamp(),
 		Name:      name,
 		Attributes: baggage.NewMap(baggage.MapUpdate{
-			MultiKV: c.Attributes,
+			MultiKV: c.Attributes(),
 		}),
 	})
 }
diff --git a/bridge/opentracing/wrapper.go b/bridge/opentracing/wrapper.go
index 149e520a634..d199a22adfd 100644
--- a/bridge/opentracing/wrapper.go
+++ b/bridge/opentracing/wrapper.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (t *WrapperTracer) otelTracer() trace.Tracer {
 // Start forwards the call to the wrapped tracer. It also tries to
 // override the tracer of the returned span if the span implements the
 // OverrideTracerSpanExtension interface.
-func (t *WrapperTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+func (t *WrapperTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
 	ctx, span := t.otelTracer().Start(ctx, name, opts...)
 	if spanWithExtension, ok := span.(migration.OverrideTracerSpanExtension); ok {
 		spanWithExtension.OverrideTracer(t)
diff --git a/internal/global/meter.go b/internal/global/meter.go
index 36f9edeb8c6..d91c0b8a234 100644
--- a/internal/global/meter.go
+++ b/internal/global/meter.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (p *meterProvider) Meter(instrumentationName string, opts ...metric.MeterOp
 
 	key := meterKey{
 		Name:    instrumentationName,
-		Version: metric.NewMeterConfig(opts...).InstrumentationVersion,
+		Version: metric.NewMeterConfig(opts...).InstrumentationVersion(),
 	}
 	entry, ok := p.meters[key]
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/internal/global/trace.go b/internal/global/trace.go
index aedf1168804..c08facd3dfe 100644
--- a/internal/global/trace.go
+++ b/internal/global/trace.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func (p *tracerProvider) Tracer(name string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) trace.T
 
 	key := il{
 		name:    name,
-		version: trace.NewTracerConfig(opts...).InstrumentationVersion,
+		version: trace.NewTracerConfig(opts...).InstrumentationVersion(),
 	}
 
 	if p.tracers == nil {
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func (t *tracer) setDelegate(provider trace.TracerProvider) {
 
 // Start implements trace.Tracer by forwarding the call to t.delegate if
 // set, otherwise it forwards the call to a NoopTracer.
-func (t *tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+func (t *tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
 	delegate := t.delegate.Load()
 	if delegate != nil {
 		return delegate.(trace.Tracer).Start(ctx, name, opts...)
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (nonRecordingSpan) SetError(bool) {}
 func (nonRecordingSpan) SetAttributes(...attribute.KeyValue) {}
 
 // End does nothing.
-func (nonRecordingSpan) End(...trace.SpanOption) {}
+func (nonRecordingSpan) End(...trace.SpanEndOption) {}
 
 // RecordError does nothing.
 func (nonRecordingSpan) RecordError(error, ...trace.EventOption) {}
diff --git a/internal/global/trace_test.go b/internal/global/trace_test.go
index 4ca53c35984..e084ebb23c7 100644
--- a/internal/global/trace_test.go
+++ b/internal/global/trace_test.go
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ func (fn fnTracerProvider) Tracer(instrumentationName string, opts ...trace.Trac
 }
 
 type fnTracer struct {
-	start func(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span)
+	start func(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span)
 }
 
-func (fn fnTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+func (fn fnTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
 	return fn.start(ctx, spanName, opts...)
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ func TestTraceProviderDelegates(t *testing.T) {
 		tracer: func(name string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) trace.Tracer {
 			called = true
 			assert.Equal(t, "abc", name)
-			assert.Equal(t, []trace.TracerOption{trace.WithInstrumentationVersion("xyz")}, opts)
 			return trace.NewNoopTracerProvider().Tracer("")
 		},
 	})
@@ -131,7 +130,6 @@ func TestTraceProviderDelegatesConcurrentSafe(t *testing.T) {
 		tracer: func(name string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) trace.Tracer {
 			newVal := atomic.AddInt32(&called, 1)
 			assert.Equal(t, "abc", name)
-			assert.Equal(t, []trace.TracerOption{trace.WithInstrumentationVersion("xyz")}, opts)
 			if newVal == 10 {
 				// Signal the goroutine to finish.
 				close(quit)
@@ -175,9 +173,8 @@ func TestTracerDelegatesConcurrentSafe(t *testing.T) {
 	otel.SetTracerProvider(fnTracerProvider{
 		tracer: func(name string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) trace.Tracer {
 			assert.Equal(t, "abc", name)
-			assert.Equal(t, []trace.TracerOption{trace.WithInstrumentationVersion("xyz")}, opts)
 			return fnTracer{
-				start: func(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+				start: func(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
 					newVal := atomic.AddInt32(&called, 1)
 					assert.Equal(t, "name", spanName)
 					if newVal == 10 {
diff --git a/metric/config.go b/metric/config.go
index 8877ae78021..053d0699b7a 100644
--- a/metric/config.go
+++ b/metric/config.go
@@ -20,23 +20,39 @@ import (
 
 // InstrumentConfig contains options for metric instrument descriptors.
 type InstrumentConfig struct {
-	// Description describes the instrument in human-readable terms.
-	Description string
-	// Unit describes the measurement unit for a instrument.
-	Unit unit.Unit
-	// InstrumentationName is the name of the library providing
-	// instrumentation.
-	InstrumentationName string
-	// InstrumentationVersion is the version of the library providing
-	// instrumentation.
-	InstrumentationVersion string
+	description            string
+	unit                   unit.Unit
+	instrumentationName    string
+	instrumentationVersion string
+}
+
+// Description describes the instrument in human-readable terms.
+func (cfg InstrumentConfig) Description() string {
+	return cfg.description
+}
+
+// Unit describes the measurement unit for a instrument.
+func (cfg InstrumentConfig) Unit() unit.Unit {
+	return cfg.unit
+}
+
+// InstrumentationName is the name of the library providing
+// instrumentation.
+func (cfg InstrumentConfig) InstrumentationName() string {
+	return cfg.instrumentationName
+}
+
+// InstrumentationVersion is the version of the library providing
+// instrumentation.
+func (cfg InstrumentConfig) InstrumentationVersion() string {
+	return cfg.instrumentationVersion
 }
 
 // InstrumentOption is an interface for applying metric instrument options.
 type InstrumentOption interface {
 	// ApplyMeter is used to set a InstrumentOption value of a
 	// InstrumentConfig.
-	ApplyInstrument(*InstrumentConfig)
+	applyInstrument(*InstrumentConfig)
 }
 
 // NewInstrumentConfig creates a new InstrumentConfig
@@ -44,55 +60,52 @@ type InstrumentOption interface {
 func NewInstrumentConfig(opts ...InstrumentOption) InstrumentConfig {
 	var config InstrumentConfig
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		o.ApplyInstrument(&config)
+		o.applyInstrument(&config)
 	}
 	return config
 }
 
-// WithDescription applies provided description.
-func WithDescription(desc string) InstrumentOption {
-	return descriptionOption(desc)
-}
+type instrumentOptionFunc func(*InstrumentConfig)
 
-type descriptionOption string
+func (fn instrumentOptionFunc) applyInstrument(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
+	fn(cfg)
+}
 
-func (d descriptionOption) ApplyInstrument(config *InstrumentConfig) {
-	config.Description = string(d)
+// WithDescription applies provided description.
+func WithDescription(desc string) InstrumentOption {
+	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
+		cfg.description = desc
+	})
 }
 
 // WithUnit applies provided unit.
 func WithUnit(unit unit.Unit) InstrumentOption {
-	return unitOption(unit)
-}
-
-type unitOption unit.Unit
-
-func (u unitOption) ApplyInstrument(config *InstrumentConfig) {
-	config.Unit = unit.Unit(u)
+	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
+		cfg.unit = unit
+	})
 }
 
 // WithInstrumentationName sets the instrumentation name.
 func WithInstrumentationName(name string) InstrumentOption {
-	return instrumentationNameOption(name)
-}
-
-type instrumentationNameOption string
-
-func (i instrumentationNameOption) ApplyInstrument(config *InstrumentConfig) {
-	config.InstrumentationName = string(i)
+	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
+		cfg.instrumentationName = name
+	})
 }
 
 // MeterConfig contains options for Meters.
 type MeterConfig struct {
-	// InstrumentationVersion is the version of the library providing
-	// instrumentation.
-	InstrumentationVersion string
+	instrumentationVersion string
+}
+
+// InstrumentationVersion is the version of the library providing instrumentation.
+func (cfg MeterConfig) InstrumentationVersion() string {
+	return cfg.instrumentationVersion
 }
 
 // MeterOption is an interface for applying Meter options.
 type MeterOption interface {
 	// ApplyMeter is used to set a MeterOption value of a MeterConfig.
-	ApplyMeter(*MeterConfig)
+	applyMeter(*MeterConfig)
 }
 
 // NewMeterConfig creates a new MeterConfig and applies
@@ -100,29 +113,29 @@ type MeterOption interface {
 func NewMeterConfig(opts ...MeterOption) MeterConfig {
 	var config MeterConfig
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		o.ApplyMeter(&config)
+		o.applyMeter(&config)
 	}
 	return config
 }
 
-// InstrumentationOption is an interface for applying instrumentation specific
-// options.
-type InstrumentationOption interface {
+// InstrumentMeterOption are options that can be used as both an InstrumentOption
+// and MeterOption
+type InstrumentMeterOption interface {
 	InstrumentOption
 	MeterOption
 }
 
 // WithInstrumentationVersion sets the instrumentation version.
-func WithInstrumentationVersion(version string) InstrumentationOption {
+func WithInstrumentationVersion(version string) InstrumentMeterOption {
 	return instrumentationVersionOption(version)
 }
 
 type instrumentationVersionOption string
 
-func (i instrumentationVersionOption) ApplyMeter(config *MeterConfig) {
-	config.InstrumentationVersion = string(i)
+func (i instrumentationVersionOption) applyMeter(config *MeterConfig) {
+	config.instrumentationVersion = string(i)
 }
 
-func (i instrumentationVersionOption) ApplyInstrument(config *InstrumentConfig) {
-	config.InstrumentationVersion = string(i)
+func (i instrumentationVersionOption) applyInstrument(config *InstrumentConfig) {
+	config.instrumentationVersion = string(i)
 }
diff --git a/metric/metric.go b/metric/metric.go
index a5d0dcd04f2..d8489aef07e 100644
--- a/metric/metric.go
+++ b/metric/metric.go
@@ -285,8 +285,8 @@ func (m Meter) newAsync(
 		return NoopAsync{}, nil
 	}
 	desc := NewDescriptor(name, mkind, nkind, opts...)
-	desc.config.InstrumentationName = m.name
-	desc.config.InstrumentationVersion = m.version
+	desc.config.instrumentationName = m.name
+	desc.config.instrumentationVersion = m.version
 	return m.impl.NewAsyncInstrument(desc, runner)
 }
 
@@ -304,8 +304,8 @@ func (m Meter) newSync(
 		return NoopSync{}, nil
 	}
 	desc := NewDescriptor(name, metricKind, numberKind, opts...)
-	desc.config.InstrumentationName = m.name
-	desc.config.InstrumentationVersion = m.version
+	desc.config.instrumentationName = m.name
+	desc.config.instrumentationVersion = m.version
 	return m.impl.NewSyncInstrument(desc)
 }
 
@@ -549,13 +549,13 @@ func (d Descriptor) InstrumentKind() InstrumentKind {
 // Description provides a human-readable description of the metric
 // instrument.
 func (d Descriptor) Description() string {
-	return d.config.Description
+	return d.config.Description()
 }
 
 // Unit describes the units of the metric instrument.  Unitless
 // metrics return the empty string.
 func (d Descriptor) Unit() unit.Unit {
-	return d.config.Unit
+	return d.config.Unit()
 }
 
 // NumberKind returns whether this instrument is declared over int64,
@@ -567,11 +567,11 @@ func (d Descriptor) NumberKind() number.Kind {
 // InstrumentationName returns the name of the library that provided
 // instrumentation for this instrument.
 func (d Descriptor) InstrumentationName() string {
-	return d.config.InstrumentationName
+	return d.config.InstrumentationName()
 }
 
 // InstrumentationVersion returns the version of the library that provided
 // instrumentation for this instrument.
 func (d Descriptor) InstrumentationVersion() string {
-	return d.config.InstrumentationVersion
+	return d.config.InstrumentationVersion()
 }
diff --git a/metric/metric_sdkapi.go b/metric/metric_sdkapi.go
index 94164f7b485..eb5ac4f52a6 100644
--- a/metric/metric_sdkapi.go
+++ b/metric/metric_sdkapi.go
@@ -90,6 +90,6 @@ func WrapMeterImpl(impl MeterImpl, instrumentationName string, opts ...MeterOpti
 	return Meter{
 		impl:    impl,
 		name:    instrumentationName,
-		version: NewMeterConfig(opts...).InstrumentationVersion,
+		version: NewMeterConfig(opts...).InstrumentationVersion(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/metric/metric_test.go b/metric/metric_test.go
index f01d7a1ebd2..899cc273714 100644
--- a/metric/metric_test.go
+++ b/metric/metric_test.go
@@ -148,25 +148,31 @@ func checkSyncBatches(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, labels []attribute.KeyV
 
 func TestOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	type testcase struct {
-		name string
-		opts []metric.InstrumentOption
-		desc string
-		unit unit.Unit
+		name  string
+		opts  []metric.InstrumentOption
+		desc  string
+		unit  unit.Unit
+		iName string
+		iVer  string
 	}
 	testcases := []testcase{
 		{
-			name: "no opts",
-			opts: nil,
-			desc: "",
-			unit: "",
+			name:  "no opts",
+			opts:  nil,
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "description",
 			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
 				metric.WithDescription("stuff"),
 			},
-			desc: "stuff",
-			unit: "",
+			desc:  "stuff",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "description override",
@@ -174,34 +180,126 @@ func TestOptions(t *testing.T) {
 				metric.WithDescription("stuff"),
 				metric.WithDescription("things"),
 			},
-			desc: "things",
-			unit: "",
+			desc:  "things",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "unit",
 			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
 				metric.WithUnit("s"),
 			},
-			desc: "",
-			unit: "s",
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "s",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "description override",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithDescription("stuff"),
+				metric.WithDescription("things"),
+			},
+			desc:  "things",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unit",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithUnit("s"),
+			},
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "s",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
+		},
+
 		{
 			name: "unit override",
 			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
 				metric.WithUnit("s"),
 				metric.WithUnit("h"),
 			},
-			desc: "",
-			unit: "h",
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "h",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "name",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithInstrumentationName("n"),
+			},
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "n",
+			iVer:  "",
+		},
+
+		{
+			name: "name override",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithInstrumentationName("n"),
+				metric.WithInstrumentationName("o"),
+			},
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "o",
+			iVer:  "",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "version",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithInstrumentationVersion("v"),
+			},
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "v",
+		},
+
+		{
+			name: "version override",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithInstrumentationVersion("v"),
+				metric.WithInstrumentationVersion("q"),
+			},
+			desc:  "",
+			unit:  "",
+			iName: "",
+			iVer:  "q",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "all",
+			opts: []metric.InstrumentOption{
+				metric.WithDescription("stuff"),
+				metric.WithUnit("s"),
+				metric.WithInstrumentationName("n"),
+				metric.WithInstrumentationVersion("v"),
+			},
+			desc:  "stuff",
+			unit:  "s",
+			iName: "n",
+			iVer:  "v",
 		},
 	}
 	for idx, tt := range testcases {
 		t.Logf("Testing counter case %s (%d)", tt.name, idx)
-		if diff := cmp.Diff(metric.NewInstrumentConfig(tt.opts...), metric.InstrumentConfig{
-			Description: tt.desc,
-			Unit:        tt.unit,
-		}); diff != "" {
-			t.Errorf("Compare options: -got +want %s", diff)
+		cfg := metric.NewInstrumentConfig(tt.opts...)
+		if diff := cmp.Diff(cfg.Description(), tt.desc); diff != "" {
+			t.Errorf("Compare Description: -got +want %s", diff)
+		}
+		if diff := cmp.Diff(cfg.Unit(), tt.unit); diff != "" {
+			t.Errorf("Compare Unit: -got +want %s", diff)
+		}
+		if diff := cmp.Diff(cfg.InstrumentationName(), tt.iName); diff != "" {
+			t.Errorf("Compare InstrumentationNam: -got +want %s", diff)
+		}
+		if diff := cmp.Diff(cfg.InstrumentationVersion(), tt.iVer); diff != "" {
+			t.Errorf("Compare InstrumentationVersion: -got +want %s", diff)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/oteltest/provider.go b/oteltest/provider.go
index cf6aea17880..0b63c84497c 100644
--- a/oteltest/provider.go
+++ b/oteltest/provider.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (p *TracerProvider) Tracer(instName string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) tra
 
 	inst := instrumentation{
 		Name:    instName,
-		Version: conf.InstrumentationVersion,
+		Version: conf.InstrumentationVersion(),
 	}
 	p.tracersMu.Lock()
 	defer p.tracersMu.Unlock()
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func (p *TracerProvider) Tracer(instName string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) tra
 	if !ok {
 		t = &Tracer{
 			Name:    instName,
-			Version: conf.InstrumentationVersion,
+			Version: conf.InstrumentationVersion(),
 			config:  &p.config,
 		}
 		p.tracers[inst] = t
diff --git a/oteltest/span.go b/oteltest/span.go
index 2d7edd15c01..d243e9f8c68 100644
--- a/oteltest/span.go
+++ b/oteltest/span.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ type Span struct {
 // End ends s. If the Tracer that created s was configured with a
 // SpanRecorder, that recorder's OnEnd method is called as the final part of
 // this method.
-func (s *Span) End(opts ...trace.SpanOption) {
+func (s *Span) End(opts ...trace.SpanEndOption) {
 	s.lock.Lock()
 	defer s.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ func (s *Span) End(opts ...trace.SpanOption) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	c := trace.NewSpanConfig(opts...)
+	c := trace.NewSpanEndConfig(opts...)
 	s.endTime = time.Now()
-	if endTime := c.Timestamp; !endTime.IsZero() {
+	if endTime := c.Timestamp(); !endTime.IsZero() {
 		s.endTime = endTime
 	}
 
@@ -101,15 +101,15 @@ func (s *Span) AddEvent(name string, o ...trace.EventOption) {
 	c := trace.NewEventConfig(o...)
 
 	var attributes map[attribute.Key]attribute.Value
-	if l := len(c.Attributes); l > 0 {
+	if l := len(c.Attributes()); l > 0 {
 		attributes = make(map[attribute.Key]attribute.Value, l)
-		for _, attr := range c.Attributes {
+		for _, attr := range c.Attributes() {
 			attributes[attr.Key] = attr.Value
 		}
 	}
 
 	s.events = append(s.events, Event{
-		Timestamp:  c.Timestamp,
+		Timestamp:  c.Timestamp(),
 		Name:       name,
 		Attributes: attributes,
 	})
diff --git a/oteltest/tracer.go b/oteltest/tracer.go
index 8b04f17f41b..b5e7367d0d1 100644
--- a/oteltest/tracer.go
+++ b/oteltest/tracer.go
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ type Tracer struct {
 
 // Start creates a span. If t is configured with a SpanRecorder its OnStart
 // method will be called after the created Span has been initialized.
-func (t *Tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
-	c := trace.NewSpanConfig(opts...)
+func (t *Tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+	c := trace.NewSpanStartConfig(opts...)
 	startTime := time.Now()
-	if st := c.Timestamp; !st.IsZero() {
+	if st := c.Timestamp(); !st.IsZero() {
 		startTime = st
 	}
 
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@ func (t *Tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOptio
 		startTime:  startTime,
 		attributes: make(map[attribute.Key]attribute.Value),
 		links:      []trace.Link{},
-		spanKind:   c.SpanKind,
+		spanKind:   c.SpanKind(),
 	}
 
-	if c.NewRoot {
+	if c.NewRoot() {
 		span.spanContext = trace.SpanContext{}
 	} else {
 		span.spanContext = t.config.SpanContextFunc(ctx)
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (t *Tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOptio
 		}
 	}
 
-	for _, link := range c.Links {
+	for _, link := range c.Links() {
 		for i, sl := range span.links {
 			if sl.SpanContext.SpanID() == link.SpanContext.SpanID() &&
 				sl.SpanContext.TraceID() == link.SpanContext.TraceID() &&
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func (t *Tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...trace.SpanOptio
 	}
 
 	span.SetName(name)
-	span.SetAttributes(c.Attributes...)
+	span.SetAttributes(c.Attributes()...)
 
 	if t.config.SpanRecorder != nil {
 		t.config.SpanRecorder.OnStart(span)
diff --git a/sdk/trace/provider.go b/sdk/trace/provider.go
index 083c0b9946a..bc4ba5db34f 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/provider.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/provider.go
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func (p *TracerProvider) Tracer(name string, opts ...trace.TracerOption) trace.T
 	}
 	il := instrumentation.Library{
 		Name:    name,
-		Version: c.InstrumentationVersion,
+		Version: c.InstrumentationVersion(),
 	}
 	t, ok := p.namedTracer[il]
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/sdk/trace/span.go b/sdk/trace/span.go
index ea61e9c6b34..f40cf1afec2 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/span.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/span.go
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (s *span) SetAttributes(attributes ...attribute.KeyValue) {
 //
 // If this method is called while panicking an error event is added to the
 // Span before ending it and the panic is continued.
-func (s *span) End(options ...trace.SpanOption) {
+func (s *span) End(options ...trace.SpanEndOption) {
 	// Do not start by checking if the span is being recorded which requires
 	// acquiring a lock. Make a minimal check that the span is not nil.
 	if s == nil {
@@ -247,14 +247,14 @@ func (s *span) End(options ...trace.SpanOption) {
 		s.executionTracerTaskEnd()
 	}
 
-	config := trace.NewSpanConfig(options...)
+	config := trace.NewSpanEndConfig(options...)
 
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	// Setting endTime to non-zero marks the span as ended and not recording.
-	if config.Timestamp.IsZero() {
+	if config.Timestamp().IsZero() {
 		s.endTime = et
 	} else {
-		s.endTime = config.Timestamp
+		s.endTime = config.Timestamp()
 	}
 	s.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -305,19 +305,19 @@ func (s *span) addEvent(name string, o ...trace.EventOption) {
 	c := trace.NewEventConfig(o...)
 
 	// Discard over limited attributes
+	attributes := c.Attributes()
 	var discarded int
-	if len(c.Attributes) > s.spanLimits.AttributePerEventCountLimit {
-		discarded = len(c.Attributes) - s.spanLimits.AttributePerEventCountLimit
-		c.Attributes = c.Attributes[:s.spanLimits.AttributePerEventCountLimit]
+	if len(attributes) > s.spanLimits.AttributePerEventCountLimit {
+		discarded = len(attributes) - s.spanLimits.AttributePerEventCountLimit
+		attributes = attributes[:s.spanLimits.AttributePerEventCountLimit]
 	}
-
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	defer s.mu.Unlock()
 	s.events.add(Event{
 		Name:                  name,
-		Attributes:            c.Attributes,
+		Attributes:            attributes,
 		DroppedAttributeCount: discarded,
-		Time:                  c.Timestamp,
+		Time:                  c.Timestamp(),
 	})
 }
 
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ func startSpanInternal(ctx context.Context, tr *tracer, name string, o *trace.Sp
 	// If told explicitly to make this a new root use a zero value SpanContext
 	// as a parent which contains an invalid trace ID and is not remote.
 	var psc trace.SpanContext
-	if !o.NewRoot {
+	if !o.NewRoot() {
 		psc = trace.SpanContextFromContext(ctx)
 	}
 
@@ -575,9 +575,9 @@ func startSpanInternal(ctx context.Context, tr *tracer, name string, o *trace.Sp
 		ParentContext: ctx,
 		TraceID:       tid,
 		Name:          name,
-		Kind:          o.SpanKind,
-		Attributes:    o.Attributes,
-		Links:         o.Links,
+		Kind:          o.SpanKind(),
+		Attributes:    o.Attributes(),
+		Links:         o.Links(),
 	})
 
 	scc := trace.SpanContextConfig{
@@ -596,13 +596,13 @@ func startSpanInternal(ctx context.Context, tr *tracer, name string, o *trace.Sp
 		return span
 	}
 
-	startTime := o.Timestamp
+	startTime := o.Timestamp()
 	if startTime.IsZero() {
 		startTime = time.Now()
 	}
 	span.startTime = startTime
 
-	span.spanKind = trace.ValidateSpanKind(o.SpanKind)
+	span.spanKind = trace.ValidateSpanKind(o.SpanKind())
 	span.name = name
 	span.parent = psc
 	span.resource = provider.resource
diff --git a/sdk/trace/trace_test.go b/sdk/trace/trace_test.go
index 46454e8f019..b18a9d77b62 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/trace_test.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/trace_test.go
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ func checkChild(t *testing.T, p trace.SpanContext, apiSpan trace.Span) error {
 
 // startSpan starts a span with a name "span0". See startNamedSpan for
 // details.
-func startSpan(tp *TracerProvider, trName string, args ...trace.SpanOption) trace.Span {
+func startSpan(tp *TracerProvider, trName string, args ...trace.SpanStartOption) trace.Span {
 	return startNamedSpan(tp, trName, "span0", args...)
 }
 
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ func startSpan(tp *TracerProvider, trName string, args ...trace.SpanOption) trac
 // passed name and with remote span context as parent. The remote span
 // context contains TraceFlags with sampled bit set. This allows the
 // span to be automatically sampled.
-func startNamedSpan(tp *TracerProvider, trName, name string, args ...trace.SpanOption) trace.Span {
+func startNamedSpan(tp *TracerProvider, trName, name string, args ...trace.SpanStartOption) trace.Span {
 	_, span := tp.Tracer(trName).Start(
 		trace.ContextWithRemoteSpanContext(context.Background(), sc),
 		name,
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ func startNamedSpan(tp *TracerProvider, trName, name string, args ...trace.SpanO
 // passed name and with the passed context. The context is returned
 // along with the span so this parent can be used to create child
 // spans.
-func startLocalSpan(tp *TracerProvider, ctx context.Context, trName, name string, args ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+func startLocalSpan(tp *TracerProvider, ctx context.Context, trName, name string, args ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
 	ctx, span := tp.Tracer(trName).Start(
 		ctx,
 		name,
diff --git a/sdk/trace/tracer.go b/sdk/trace/tracer.go
index b7869eddd2e..0c692fc815a 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/tracer.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/tracer.go
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ var _ trace.Tracer = &tracer{}
 // span context found in the passed context. The created Span will be
 // configured appropriately by any SpanOption passed. Any Timestamp option
 // passed will be used as the start time of the Span's life-cycle.
-func (tr *tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, options ...trace.SpanOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
-	config := trace.NewSpanConfig(options...)
+func (tr *tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, options ...trace.SpanStartOption) (context.Context, trace.Span) {
+	config := trace.NewSpanStartConfig(options...)
 
 	// For local spans created by this SDK, track child span count.
 	if p := trace.SpanFromContext(ctx); p != nil {
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (tr *tracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, options ...trace.SpanO
 	}
 
 	span := startSpanInternal(ctx, tr, name, config)
-	for _, l := range config.Links {
+	for _, l := range config.Links() {
 		span.addLink(l)
 	}
-	span.SetAttributes(config.Attributes...)
+	span.SetAttributes(config.Attributes()...)
 
 	span.tracer = tr
 
diff --git a/trace/config.go b/trace/config.go
index ea30ee35f15..4485fb9be07 100644
--- a/trace/config.go
+++ b/trace/config.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-package trace
+package trace // import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace"
 
 import (
 	"time"
@@ -22,109 +22,171 @@ import (
 
 // TracerConfig is a group of options for a Tracer.
 type TracerConfig struct {
-	// InstrumentationVersion is the version of the library providing
-	// instrumentation.
-	InstrumentationVersion string
+	instrumentationVersion string
+}
+
+// InstrumentationVersion returns the version of the library providing instrumentation.
+func (t *TracerConfig) InstrumentationVersion() string {
+	return t.instrumentationVersion
 }
 
 // NewTracerConfig applies all the options to a returned TracerConfig.
 func NewTracerConfig(options ...TracerOption) *TracerConfig {
 	config := new(TracerConfig)
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.ApplyTracer(config)
+		option.apply(config)
 	}
 	return config
 }
 
 // TracerOption applies an option to a TracerConfig.
 type TracerOption interface {
-	ApplyTracer(*TracerConfig)
+	apply(*TracerConfig)
+}
+
+type tracerOptionFunc func(*TracerConfig)
 
-	// A private method to prevent users implementing the
-	// interface and so future additions to it will not
-	// violate compatibility.
-	private()
+func (fn tracerOptionFunc) apply(cfg *TracerConfig) {
+	fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // SpanConfig is a group of options for a Span.
 type SpanConfig struct {
-	// Attributes describe the associated qualities of a Span.
-	Attributes []attribute.KeyValue
-	// Timestamp is a time in a Span life-cycle.
-	Timestamp time.Time
-	// Links are the associations a Span has with other Spans.
-	Links []Link
-	// NewRoot identifies a Span as the root Span for a new trace. This is
-	// commonly used when an existing trace crosses trust boundaries and the
-	// remote parent span context should be ignored for security.
-	NewRoot bool
-	// SpanKind is the role a Span has in a trace.
-	SpanKind SpanKind
-}
-
-// NewSpanConfig applies all the options to a returned SpanConfig.
+	attributes []attribute.KeyValue
+	timestamp  time.Time
+	links      []Link
+	newRoot    bool
+	spanKind   SpanKind
+}
+
+// Attributes describe the associated qualities of a Span.
+func (cfg *SpanConfig) Attributes() []attribute.KeyValue {
+	return cfg.attributes
+}
+
+// Timestamp is a time in a Span life-cycle.
+func (cfg *SpanConfig) Timestamp() time.Time {
+	return cfg.timestamp
+}
+
+// Links are the associations a Span has with other Spans.
+func (cfg *SpanConfig) Links() []Link {
+	return cfg.links
+}
+
+// NewRoot identifies a Span as the root Span for a new trace. This is
+// commonly used when an existing trace crosses trust boundaries and the
+// remote parent span context should be ignored for security.
+func (cfg *SpanConfig) NewRoot() bool {
+	return cfg.newRoot
+}
+
+// SpanKind is the role a Span has in a trace.
+func (cfg *SpanConfig) SpanKind() SpanKind {
+	return cfg.spanKind
+}
+
+// NewSpanStartConfig applies all the options to a returned SpanConfig.
 // No validation is performed on the returned SpanConfig (e.g. no uniqueness
 // checking or bounding of data), it is left to the SDK to perform this
 // action.
-func NewSpanConfig(options ...SpanOption) *SpanConfig {
+func NewSpanStartConfig(options ...SpanStartOption) *SpanConfig {
 	c := new(SpanConfig)
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.ApplySpan(c)
+		option.applySpanStart(c)
 	}
 	return c
 }
 
-// SpanOption applies an option to a SpanConfig.
-type SpanOption interface {
-	ApplySpan(*SpanConfig)
+// NewSpanEndConfig applies all the options to a returned SpanConfig.
+// No validation is performed on the returned SpanConfig (e.g. no uniqueness
+// checking or bounding of data), it is left to the SDK to perform this
+// action.
+func NewSpanEndConfig(options ...SpanEndOption) *SpanConfig {
+	c := new(SpanConfig)
+	for _, option := range options {
+		option.applySpanEnd(c)
+	}
+	return c
+}
 
-	// A private method to prevent users implementing the
-	// interface and so future additions to it will not
-	// violate compatibility.
-	private()
+// SpanStartOption applies an option to a SpanConfig. These options are applicable
+// only when the span is created
+type SpanStartOption interface {
+	applySpanStart(*SpanConfig)
+}
+
+type spanOptionFunc func(*SpanConfig)
+
+func (fn spanOptionFunc) applySpanStart(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+	fn(cfg)
+}
+
+// SpanEndOptions applies an option to a SpanConfig. These options are applicable
+// only when the span is ended.
+type SpanEndOption interface {
+	applySpanEnd(*SpanConfig)
+}
+
+// EventConfig is a group of options for an Event.
+type EventConfig struct {
+	attributes []attribute.KeyValue
+	timestamp  time.Time
+}
+
+// Attributes describe the associated qualities of an Event.
+func (cfg *EventConfig) Attributes() []attribute.KeyValue {
+	return cfg.attributes
+}
+
+// Timestamp is a time in an Event life-cycle.
+func (cfg *EventConfig) Timestamp() time.Time {
+	return cfg.timestamp
 }
 
 // NewEventConfig applies all the EventOptions to a returned SpanConfig. If no
 // timestamp option is passed, the returned SpanConfig will have a Timestamp
 // set to the call time, otherwise no validation is performed on the returned
 // SpanConfig.
-func NewEventConfig(options ...EventOption) *SpanConfig {
-	c := new(SpanConfig)
+func NewEventConfig(options ...EventOption) *EventConfig {
+	c := new(EventConfig)
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.ApplyEvent(c)
+		option.applyEvent(c)
 	}
-	if c.Timestamp.IsZero() {
-		c.Timestamp = time.Now()
+	if c.timestamp.IsZero() {
+		c.timestamp = time.Now()
 	}
 	return c
 }
 
-// EventOption applies span event options to a SpanConfig.
+// EventOption applies span event options to an EventConfig.
 type EventOption interface {
-	ApplyEvent(*SpanConfig)
+	applyEvent(*EventConfig)
+}
 
-	// A private method to prevent users implementing the
-	// interface and so future additions to it will not
-	// violate compatibility.
-	private()
+// SpanOption are options that can be used at both the beginning and end of a span.
+type SpanOption interface {
+	SpanStartOption
+	SpanEndOption
 }
 
-// LifeCycleOption applies span life-cycle options to a SpanConfig. These
-// options set values releated to events in a spans life-cycle like starting,
-// ending, experiencing an error and other user defined notable events.
-type LifeCycleOption interface {
-	SpanOption
+// SpanStartEventOption are options that can be used at the start of a span, or with an event.
+type SpanStartEventOption interface {
+	SpanStartOption
 	EventOption
 }
 
-type attributeSpanOption []attribute.KeyValue
+type attributeOption []attribute.KeyValue
 
-func (o attributeSpanOption) ApplySpan(c *SpanConfig)  { o.apply(c) }
-func (o attributeSpanOption) ApplyEvent(c *SpanConfig) { o.apply(c) }
-func (attributeSpanOption) private()                   {}
-func (o attributeSpanOption) apply(c *SpanConfig) {
-	c.Attributes = append(c.Attributes, []attribute.KeyValue(o)...)
+func (o attributeOption) applySpan(c *SpanConfig) {
+	c.attributes = append(c.attributes, []attribute.KeyValue(o)...)
 }
+func (o attributeOption) applySpanStart(c *SpanConfig) { o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o attributeOption) applyEvent(c *EventConfig) {
+	c.attributes = append(c.attributes, []attribute.KeyValue(o)...)
+}
+
+var _ SpanStartEventOption = attributeOption{}
 
 // WithAttributes adds the attributes related to a span life-cycle event.
 // These attributes are used to describe the work a Span represents when this
@@ -135,71 +197,58 @@ func (o attributeSpanOption) apply(c *SpanConfig) {
 // If multiple of these options are passed the attributes of each successive
 // option will extend the attributes instead of overwriting. There is no
 // guarantee of uniqueness in the resulting attributes.
-func WithAttributes(attributes ...attribute.KeyValue) LifeCycleOption {
-	return attributeSpanOption(attributes)
+func WithAttributes(attributes ...attribute.KeyValue) SpanStartEventOption {
+	return attributeOption(attributes)
 }
 
-type timestampSpanOption time.Time
+// SpanEventOption are options that can be used with an event or a span.
+type SpanEventOption interface {
+	SpanOption
+	EventOption
+}
 
-func (o timestampSpanOption) ApplySpan(c *SpanConfig)  { o.apply(c) }
-func (o timestampSpanOption) ApplyEvent(c *SpanConfig) { o.apply(c) }
-func (timestampSpanOption) private()                   {}
-func (o timestampSpanOption) apply(c *SpanConfig)      { c.Timestamp = time.Time(o) }
+type timestampOption time.Time
 
-// WithTimestamp sets the time of a Span life-cycle moment (e.g. started,
-// stopped, errored).
-func WithTimestamp(t time.Time) LifeCycleOption {
-	return timestampSpanOption(t)
-}
+func (o timestampOption) applySpan(c *SpanConfig)      { c.timestamp = time.Time(o) }
+func (o timestampOption) applySpanStart(c *SpanConfig) { o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o timestampOption) applySpanEnd(c *SpanConfig)   { o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o timestampOption) applyEvent(c *EventConfig)    { c.timestamp = time.Time(o) }
 
-type linksSpanOption []Link
+var _ SpanEventOption = timestampOption{}
 
-func (o linksSpanOption) ApplySpan(c *SpanConfig) { c.Links = append(c.Links, []Link(o)...) }
-func (linksSpanOption) private()                  {}
+// WithTimestamp sets the time of a Span or Event life-cycle moment (e.g.
+// started, stopped, errored).
+func WithTimestamp(t time.Time) SpanEventOption {
+	return timestampOption(t)
+}
 
 // WithLinks adds links to a Span. The links are added to the existing Span
 // links, i.e. this does not overwrite.
-func WithLinks(links ...Link) SpanOption {
-	return linksSpanOption(links)
+func WithLinks(links ...Link) SpanStartOption {
+	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+		cfg.links = append(cfg.links, links...)
+	})
 }
 
-type newRootSpanOption bool
-
-func (o newRootSpanOption) ApplySpan(c *SpanConfig) { c.NewRoot = bool(o) }
-func (newRootSpanOption) private()                  {}
-
 // WithNewRoot specifies that the Span should be treated as a root Span. Any
 // existing parent span context will be ignored when defining the Span's trace
 // identifiers.
-func WithNewRoot() SpanOption {
-	return newRootSpanOption(true)
+func WithNewRoot() SpanStartOption {
+	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+		cfg.newRoot = true
+	})
 }
 
-type spanKindSpanOption SpanKind
-
-func (o spanKindSpanOption) ApplySpan(c *SpanConfig) { c.SpanKind = SpanKind(o) }
-func (o spanKindSpanOption) private()                {}
-
 // WithSpanKind sets the SpanKind of a Span.
-func WithSpanKind(kind SpanKind) SpanOption {
-	return spanKindSpanOption(kind)
-}
-
-// InstrumentationOption is an interface for applying instrumentation specific
-// options.
-type InstrumentationOption interface {
-	TracerOption
+func WithSpanKind(kind SpanKind) SpanStartOption {
+	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+		cfg.spanKind = kind
+	})
 }
 
 // WithInstrumentationVersion sets the instrumentation version.
-func WithInstrumentationVersion(version string) InstrumentationOption {
-	return instrumentationVersionOption(version)
+func WithInstrumentationVersion(version string) TracerOption {
+	return tracerOptionFunc(func(cfg *TracerConfig) {
+		cfg.instrumentationVersion = version
+	})
 }
-
-type instrumentationVersionOption string
-
-func (i instrumentationVersionOption) ApplyTracer(config *TracerConfig) {
-	config.InstrumentationVersion = string(i)
-}
-
-func (instrumentationVersionOption) private() {}
diff --git a/trace/config_test.go b/trace/config_test.go
index 9375191c40a..074aa303ebb 100644
--- a/trace/config_test.go
+++ b/trace/config_test.go
@@ -41,119 +41,119 @@ func TestNewSpanConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		options  []SpanOption
+		options  []SpanStartOption
 		expected *SpanConfig
 	}{
 		{
 			// No non-zero-values should be set.
-			[]SpanOption{},
+			[]SpanStartOption{},
 			new(SpanConfig),
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithAttributes(k1v1),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				Attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1},
+				attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1},
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			// Multiple calls should append not overwrite.
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithAttributes(k1v1),
 				WithAttributes(k1v2),
 				WithAttributes(k2v2),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
 				// No uniqueness is guaranteed by the API.
-				Attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1, k1v2, k2v2},
+				attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1, k1v2, k2v2},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithAttributes(k1v1, k1v2, k2v2),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
 				// No uniqueness is guaranteed by the API.
-				Attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1, k1v2, k2v2},
+				attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1, k1v2, k2v2},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithTimestamp(timestamp0),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				Timestamp: timestamp0,
+				timestamp: timestamp0,
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				// Multiple calls overwrites with last-one-wins.
 				WithTimestamp(timestamp0),
 				WithTimestamp(timestamp1),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				Timestamp: timestamp1,
+				timestamp: timestamp1,
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithLinks(link1),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				Links: []Link{link1},
+				links: []Link{link1},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				// Multiple calls should append not overwrite.
 				WithLinks(link1),
 				WithLinks(link1, link2),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
 				// No uniqueness is guaranteed by the API.
-				Links: []Link{link1, link1, link2},
+				links: []Link{link1, link1, link2},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithNewRoot(),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				NewRoot: true,
+				newRoot: true,
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				// Multiple calls should not change NewRoot state.
 				WithNewRoot(),
 				WithNewRoot(),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				NewRoot: true,
+				newRoot: true,
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithSpanKind(SpanKindConsumer),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				SpanKind: SpanKindConsumer,
+				spanKind: SpanKindConsumer,
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				// Multiple calls overwrites with last-one-wins.
 				WithSpanKind(SpanKindClient),
 				WithSpanKind(SpanKindConsumer),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				SpanKind: SpanKindConsumer,
+				spanKind: SpanKindConsumer,
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			// Everything should work together.
-			[]SpanOption{
+			[]SpanStartOption{
 				WithAttributes(k1v1),
 				WithTimestamp(timestamp0),
 				WithLinks(link1, link2),
@@ -161,16 +161,16 @@ func TestNewSpanConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithSpanKind(SpanKindConsumer),
 			},
 			&SpanConfig{
-				Attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1},
-				Timestamp:  timestamp0,
-				Links:      []Link{link1, link2},
-				NewRoot:    true,
-				SpanKind:   SpanKindConsumer,
+				attributes: []attribute.KeyValue{k1v1},
+				timestamp:  timestamp0,
+				links:      []Link{link1, link2},
+				newRoot:    true,
+				spanKind:   SpanKindConsumer,
 			},
 		},
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		assert.Equal(t, test.expected, NewSpanConfig(test.options...))
+		assert.Equal(t, test.expected, NewSpanStartConfig(test.options...))
 	}
 }
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func TestTracerConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithInstrumentationVersion(v1),
 			},
 			&TracerConfig{
-				InstrumentationVersion: v1,
+				instrumentationVersion: v1,
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ func TestTracerConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithInstrumentationVersion(v2),
 			},
 			&TracerConfig{
-				InstrumentationVersion: v2,
+				instrumentationVersion: v2,
 			},
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/trace/noop.go b/trace/noop.go
index d3691d1c62b..5d5bd7af68e 100644
--- a/trace/noop.go
+++ b/trace/noop.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ type noopTracer struct{}
 var _ Tracer = noopTracer{}
 
 // Start starts a noop span.
-func (t noopTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, _ ...SpanOption) (context.Context, Span) {
+func (t noopTracer) Start(ctx context.Context, name string, _ ...SpanStartOption) (context.Context, Span) {
 	span := noopSpan{}
 	return ContextWithSpan(ctx, span), span
 }
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func (noopSpan) SetError(bool) {}
 func (noopSpan) SetAttributes(...attribute.KeyValue) {}
 
 // End does nothing.
-func (noopSpan) End(...SpanOption) {}
+func (noopSpan) End(...SpanEndOption) {}
 
 // RecordError does nothing.
 func (noopSpan) RecordError(error, ...EventOption) {}
diff --git a/trace/trace.go b/trace/trace.go
index 62dc4d2c3ee..cd96a756561 100644
--- a/trace/trace.go
+++ b/trace/trace.go
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ type Span interface {
 	// delivered through the rest of the telemetry pipeline after this method
 	// is called. Therefore, updates to the Span are not allowed after this
 	// method has been called.
-	End(options ...SpanOption)
+	End(options ...SpanEndOption)
 
 	// AddEvent adds an event with the provided name and options.
 	AddEvent(name string, options ...EventOption)
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ type Tracer interface {
 	//
 	// Any Span that is created MUST also be ended. This is the responsibility of the user.
 	// Implementations of this API may leak memory or other resources if Spans are not ended.
-	Start(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...SpanOption) (context.Context, Span)
+	Start(ctx context.Context, spanName string, opts ...SpanStartOption) (context.Context, Span)
 }
 
 // TracerProvider provides access to instrumentation Tracers.