Objective To evaluate the effect of ultrasound in assisting the teaching of internal jugular vein catheterization in standardized resident training. Methods Twenty-eight non-anesthesiology residents who were trained in anesthesiology department，after theoretical training and model operations of internal jugular vein catheterization, underwent puncture procedure with the method of anatomic localization (group C) and ultrasonic localization (group U). The success rate of the first puncture, the success rate and the time of puncture procedure, the incidence of complications and the students' satisfaction with teaching, also the confidence score before operation were recorded. Results Compared with group C, the success rate of the first puncture and puncture procedure in group U were higher (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the time of successful puncture between group U((10.2 +1.1) min) and group C((11.1 +1.3) min)(P＞0.05). There were 6 cases of hematoma in group C, which was significantly higher than that in group U (P<0.05). Hemopneumothorax was not occured in both groups. Questionnaire survey showed that, compared with group C, the scores of teaching satisfaction and operation confidence score of puncture procedure were higher in group U(P<0.05). Conclusion The location of ultrasound assisting in the teaching of internal jugular vein catheterization is safer and more effective than the traditional anatomic location teaching method, with a higher success rate and less complications.