In order to improve medical students' capabilities to understand and apply of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), competency-based education (CBE) theory has been introduced in CPR teaching to enhance teaching effect. According to the requirement of CBE teaching methods, developing students’ competency is the core of teaching task. In this study, CPR course standard has been instituted and teaching plan has also been complied. In addition, several teaching methods and multiple evaluation and examination methods have been introduced. The results demonstrated that this exploration was proved to be effective. Teaching was shifted from the teacher-centered learning to the student-centered learning, thus CBE teaching method mobilized the students' self-initiative and improved the teaching effect of CPR, and further improved the medical students' practical skills and clinical thinking.