Objective To establish the model of core competence curriculum for specialty nurses and to provide a guidance for setting the structure and content of training curriculum for specialty nurses based on the model of core competence curriculum for anesthesia specialty nurses. Methods Based on the Bloom's theory of teaching objective classification and quality iceberg theory, items of core competence of the anesthesia specialty nurses were qualitatively studied by the content analysis. The three dimensional model of core competence curriculum for anesthesia specialty nurses was established according to the training purposes for anesthesia specialty nurses. Results The core competence curriculum included eight courses and each course consisted of multiple modules. Each module formed a cube of attitude, knowledge, and skill and multiple module cubes formed a course cube. Based on course cubes, the model of core competence curriculum, i.e. the core competence curriculum cube, was formed. Teaching could be independently conducted based on each course cube. Conclusion The model of core competence curriculum established by this study benefits the training for not only professional and practical talents, but also the caring attitude of professional competence of nursing talents. The model provides a teaching tool for competence teaching with independent modules. Trainees can gradually adapt to clinical posts and meet the needs of training for post competence by modular learning.