diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
index 8ae18a7aa49..64f47dc6066 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
@@ -174,7 +174,18 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_op {
 /** Helper to define an empty model array */
 #define BT_MESH_MODEL_NONE ((struct bt_mesh_model []){})
 
-#define BT_MESH_MODEL(_id, _op, _pub, _user_data)                            \
+
+/** @def BT_MESH_MODEL_CB
+ *
+ * @brief Composition data SIG model entry with callback functions.
+ *
+ * @param _id Model ID.
+ * @param _op Array of model opcode handlers.
+ * @param _pub Model publish parameters.
+ * @param _user_data User data for the model.
+ * @param _cb Callback structure, or NULL to keep no callbacks.
+ */
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_CB(_id, _op, _pub, _user_data, _cb)                    \
 {                                                                            \
 	.id = (_id),                                                         \
 	.op = _op,                                                           \
@@ -184,9 +195,21 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_op {
 	.groups = { [0 ... (CONFIG_BT_MESH_MODEL_GROUP_COUNT - 1)] =         \
 			BT_MESH_ADDR_UNASSIGNED },                           \
 	.user_data = _user_data,                                             \
+	.cb = _cb,                                                           \
 }
 
-#define BT_MESH_MODEL_VND(_company, _id, _op, _pub, _user_data)              \
+/** @def BT_MESH_MODEL_VND_CB
+ *
+ * @brief Composition data vendor model entry with callback functions.
+ *
+ * @param _company Company ID.
+ * @param _id Model ID.
+ * @param _op Array of model opcode handlers.
+ * @param _pub Model publish parameters.
+ * @param _user_data User data for the model.
+ * @param _cb Callback structure, or NULL to keep no callbacks.
+ */
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_VND_CB(_company, _id, _op, _pub, _user_data, _cb)      \
 {                                                                            \
 	.vnd.company = (_company),                                           \
 	.vnd.id = (_id),                                                     \
@@ -197,8 +220,35 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_op {
 	.groups = { [0 ... (CONFIG_BT_MESH_MODEL_GROUP_COUNT - 1)] =         \
 			BT_MESH_ADDR_UNASSIGNED },                           \
 	.user_data = _user_data,                                             \
+	.cb = _cb,                                                           \
 }
 
+
+/** @def BT_MESH_MODEL
+ *
+ * @brief Composition data SIG model entry.
+ *
+ * @param _id Model ID.
+ * @param _op Array of model opcode handlers.
+ * @param _pub Model publish parameters.
+ * @param _user_data User data for the model.
+ */
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL(_id, _op, _pub, _user_data)                              \
+	BT_MESH_MODEL_CB(_id, _op, _pub, _user_data, NULL)
+
+/** @def BT_MESH_MODEL_VND
+ *
+ * @brief Composition data vendor model entry.
+ *
+ * @param _company Company ID.
+ * @param _id Model ID.
+ * @param _op Array of model opcode handlers.
+ * @param _pub Model publish parameters.
+ * @param _user_data User data for the model.
+ */
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_VND(_company, _id, _op, _pub, _user_data)                \
+	BT_MESH_MODEL_VND_CB(_company, _id, _op, _pub, _user_data, NULL)
+
 /** @def BT_MESH_TRANSMIT
  *
  *  @brief Encode transmission count & interval steps.
@@ -330,6 +380,19 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_pub {
 		.msg = &bt_mesh_pub_msg_##_name, \
 	}
 
+/** Model callback functions. */
+struct bt_mesh_model_cb {
+	/** @brief Model init callback.
+	 *
+	 * Called on every model instance during mesh initialization.
+	 *
+	 * @param model Model to be initialized.
+	 *
+	 * @return 0 on success, error otherwise.
+	 */
+	int (*const init)(struct bt_mesh_model *model);
+};
+
 /** Abstraction that describes a Mesh Model instance */
 struct bt_mesh_model {
 	union {
@@ -356,6 +419,9 @@ struct bt_mesh_model {
 
 	const struct bt_mesh_model_op * const op;
 
+	/* Model callback structure. */
+	const struct bt_mesh_model_cb * const cb;
+
 	/* Model-specific user data */
 	void *user_data;
 };
@@ -438,6 +504,17 @@ struct bt_mesh_model *bt_mesh_model_find(const struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 struct bt_mesh_model *bt_mesh_model_find_vnd(const struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 					     u16_t company, u16_t id);
 
+/** @brief Get whether the model is in the primary element of the device.
+ *
+ * @param mod Mesh model.
+ *
+ * @return true if the model is on the primary element, false otherwise.
+ */
+static inline bool bt_mesh_model_in_primary(const struct bt_mesh_model *mod)
+{
+	return (mod->elem_idx == 0);
+}
+
 /** Node Composition */
 struct bt_mesh_comp {
 	u16_t cid;
diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.h
index 96e47e1e2e7..84fc7802dfb 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.h
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@ struct bt_mesh_cfg_cli {
 };
 
 extern const struct bt_mesh_model_op bt_mesh_cfg_cli_op[];
+extern const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_cfg_cli_cb;
 
-#define BT_MESH_MODEL_CFG_CLI(cli_data)                                      \
-		BT_MESH_MODEL(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_CFG_CLI,                      \
-			      bt_mesh_cfg_cli_op, NULL, cli_data)
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_CFG_CLI(cli_data)                                        \
+	BT_MESH_MODEL_CB(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_CFG_CLI, bt_mesh_cfg_cli_op, NULL,   \
+			 cli_data, &bt_mesh_cfg_cli_cb)
 
 int bt_mesh_cfg_comp_data_get(u16_t net_idx, u16_t addr, u8_t page,
 			      u8_t *status, struct net_buf_simple *comp);
diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.h
index a28efdeafae..06b5d46b044 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.h
@@ -61,10 +61,11 @@ struct bt_mesh_cfg_srv {
 };
 
 extern const struct bt_mesh_model_op bt_mesh_cfg_srv_op[];
+extern const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_cfg_srv_cb;
 
-#define BT_MESH_MODEL_CFG_SRV(srv_data)                                      \
-		BT_MESH_MODEL(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_CFG_SRV,                      \
-			      bt_mesh_cfg_srv_op, NULL, srv_data)
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_CFG_SRV(srv_data)                                        \
+	BT_MESH_MODEL_CB(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_CFG_SRV, bt_mesh_cfg_srv_op, NULL,   \
+			 srv_data, &bt_mesh_cfg_srv_cb)
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.h
index 8ebd8012b1d..80701abcb19 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.h
@@ -35,10 +35,11 @@ struct bt_mesh_health_cli {
 };
 
 extern const struct bt_mesh_model_op bt_mesh_health_cli_op[];
+extern const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_health_cli_cb;
 
-#define BT_MESH_MODEL_HEALTH_CLI(cli_data)                                   \
-		BT_MESH_MODEL(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_HEALTH_CLI,                   \
-			      bt_mesh_health_cli_op, NULL, cli_data)
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_HEALTH_CLI(cli_data)                                     \
+	BT_MESH_MODEL_CB(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_HEALTH_CLI, bt_mesh_health_cli_op,   \
+			 NULL, cli_data, &bt_mesh_health_cli_cb)
 
 int bt_mesh_health_cli_set(struct bt_mesh_model *model);
 
diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.h
index 2215ae0f6fe..60b507f5960 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ struct bt_mesh_health_srv {
 int bt_mesh_fault_update(struct bt_mesh_elem *elem);
 
 extern const struct bt_mesh_model_op bt_mesh_health_srv_op[];
+extern const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_health_srv_cb;
 
 /** @def BT_MESH_MODEL_HEALTH_SRV
  *
@@ -83,9 +84,9 @@ extern const struct bt_mesh_model_op bt_mesh_health_srv_op[];
  *
  *  @return New mesh model instance.
  */
-#define BT_MESH_MODEL_HEALTH_SRV(srv, pub)                                   \
-		BT_MESH_MODEL(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_HEALTH_SRV,                   \
-			      bt_mesh_health_srv_op, pub, srv)
+#define BT_MESH_MODEL_HEALTH_SRV(srv, pub)                                     \
+	BT_MESH_MODEL_CB(BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_HEALTH_SRV, bt_mesh_health_srv_op,   \
+			 pub, srv, &bt_mesh_health_srv_cb)
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
index cfcf9858603..902c6cdc784 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
@@ -30,20 +30,6 @@
 static const struct bt_mesh_comp *dev_comp;
 static u16_t dev_primary_addr;
 
-static const struct {
-	const u16_t id;
-	int (*const init)(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary);
-} model_init[] = {
-	{ BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_CFG_SRV, bt_mesh_cfg_srv_init },
-	{ BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_HEALTH_SRV, bt_mesh_health_srv_init },
-#if defined(CONFIG_BT_MESH_CFG_CLI)
-	{ BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_CFG_CLI, bt_mesh_cfg_cli_init },
-#endif
-#if defined(CONFIG_BT_MESH_HEALTH_CLI)
-	{ BT_MESH_MODEL_ID_HEALTH_CLI, bt_mesh_health_cli_init },
-#endif
-};
-
 void bt_mesh_model_foreach(void (*func)(struct bt_mesh_model *mod,
 					struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 					bool vnd, bool primary,
@@ -302,14 +288,8 @@ static void mod_init(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 		mod->mod_idx = mod - elem->models;
 	}
 
-	if (vnd) {
-		return;
-	}
-
-	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(model_init); i++) {
-		if (model_init[i].id == mod->id) {
-			model_init[i].init(mod, primary);
-		}
+	if (mod->cb && mod->cb->init) {
+		mod->cb->init(mod);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.c
index a6414a39429..fd1a8fdaf70 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_cli.c
@@ -487,6 +487,33 @@ const struct bt_mesh_model_op bt_mesh_cfg_cli_op[] = {
 	BT_MESH_MODEL_OP_END,
 };
 
+static int cfg_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
+{
+	if (!bt_mesh_model_in_primary(model)) {
+		BT_ERR("Configuration Client only allowed in primary element");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (!model->user_data) {
+		BT_ERR("No Configuration Client context provided");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	cli = model->user_data;
+	cli->model = model;
+
+	/* Configuration Model security is device-key based */
+	model->keys[0] = BT_MESH_KEY_DEV;
+
+	k_sem_init(&cli->op_sync, 0, 1);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_cfg_cli_cb = {
+	.init = cfg_cli_init,
+};
+
 static int cli_prepare(void *param, u32_t op)
 {
 	if (!cli) {
@@ -1417,28 +1444,3 @@ void bt_mesh_cfg_cli_timeout_set(s32_t timeout)
 {
 	msg_timeout = timeout;
 }
-
-int bt_mesh_cfg_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
-{
-	BT_DBG("primary %u", primary);
-
-	if (!primary) {
-		BT_ERR("Configuration Client only allowed in primary element");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
-	if (!model->user_data) {
-		BT_ERR("No Configuration Client context provided");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
-	cli = model->user_data;
-	cli->model = model;
-
-	/* Configuration Model security is device-key based */
-	model->keys[0] = BT_MESH_KEY_DEV;
-
-	k_sem_init(&cli->op_sync, 0, 1);
-
-	return 0;
-}
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c
index ce0b3b06b1b..7a002a4213a 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c
@@ -3233,10 +3233,15 @@ static bool conf_is_valid(struct bt_mesh_cfg_srv *cfg)
 	return true;
 }
 
-int bt_mesh_cfg_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
+static int cfg_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
 {
 	struct bt_mesh_cfg_srv *cfg = model->user_data;
 
+	if (!bt_mesh_model_in_primary(model)) {
+		BT_ERR("Configuration Server only allowed in primary element");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	if (!cfg) {
 		BT_ERR("No Configuration Server context provided");
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -3273,6 +3278,10 @@ int bt_mesh_cfg_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_cfg_srv_cb = {
+	.init = cfg_srv_init,
+};
+
 static void mod_reset(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 		      bool vnd, bool primary, void *user_data)
 {
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/foundation.h b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/foundation.h
index 000087dd6e7..25c24c0685d 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/foundation.h
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/foundation.h
@@ -112,12 +112,6 @@
 #define STATUS_UNSPECIFIED                 0x10
 #define STATUS_INVALID_BINDING             0x11
 
-int bt_mesh_cfg_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary);
-int bt_mesh_health_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary);
-
-int bt_mesh_cfg_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary);
-int bt_mesh_health_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary);
-
 void bt_mesh_cfg_reset(void);
 
 void bt_mesh_heartbeat(u16_t src, u16_t dst, u8_t hops, u16_t feat);
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.c
index d286231dd76..1ac5d06a287 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_cli.c
@@ -510,11 +510,11 @@ int bt_mesh_health_cli_set(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int bt_mesh_health_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
+static int health_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
 {
 	struct bt_mesh_health_cli *cli = model->user_data;
 
-	BT_DBG("primary %u", primary);
+	BT_DBG("primary %u", bt_mesh_model_in_primary(model));
 
 	if (!cli) {
 		BT_ERR("No Health Client context provided");
@@ -533,3 +533,7 @@ int bt_mesh_health_cli_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_health_cli_cb = {
+	.init = health_cli_init,
+};
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.c
index 93e5888b54b..91767977a04 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/health_srv.c
@@ -384,12 +384,12 @@ static void attention_off(struct k_work *work)
 	}
 }
 
-int bt_mesh_health_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
+static int health_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
 {
 	struct bt_mesh_health_srv *srv = model->user_data;
 
 	if (!srv) {
-		if (!primary) {
+		if (!bt_mesh_model_in_primary(model)) {
 			return 0;
 		}
 
@@ -408,13 +408,17 @@ int bt_mesh_health_srv_init(struct bt_mesh_model *model, bool primary)
 
 	srv->model = model;
 
-	if (primary) {
+	if (bt_mesh_model_in_primary(model)) {
 		health_srv = srv;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
+const struct bt_mesh_model_cb bt_mesh_health_srv_cb = {
+	.init = health_srv_init,
+};
+
 void bt_mesh_attention(struct bt_mesh_model *model, u8_t time)
 {
 	struct bt_mesh_health_srv *srv;