Ultrasonic　guided　waves　have　the　ability　of　long-distance　nondestructive　testing　for　defects　in　waveguide　structures,　and　have　been　one　of　the　hotspots　in　the　field　of　nondestructive　testing　for　many　years.　Finite　element　method　(FEM)　has　the　ability　to　calculate　various　complex　dynamics　problems　and　has　become　an　important　tool　in　the　research　of　ultrasonic　guided　wave　testing　technique.　Considering　the　hot　issues　in　the　research,　a　brief　review　of　the　relevant　FEM　is　proposed.　The　development　of　FEM　and　its　application　in　the　excitation　and　reception　of　guided　waves　under　multi-physical　coupled　field　mechanism,　the　propagation　characteristics　of　guided　waves　in　linear　elasticity　and　viscoelastic　structures　and　nonlinear　ultrasonic　guided　waves　are　introduced.　Finally,　the　research　emphasis　and　development　direction　of　the　relevant　FEM　in　the　future　is　prospected　based　on　the　research　trend　of　ultrasonic　guided　wave　testing　technique.　©　2020　Advances　in　Mechanics.