Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is an advanced inorganic nonmetallic composite material with excellent mechanical properties. It has attracted extensive attention in industrial process and national defense applications, especially in car production and large aircraft manufacturing industry. As one of the most important parameters, electrical conductivity plays a key role for the overall performance of CFRP in researching non-destructive testing, anti-thunder and electromagnetic shielding. The conductive mechanism of CFRP is discussed in depth at first. Then considering the inhomogeneity and anisotropy, the popular CFRP electrical conductivity detection technology is summarized and compared from perspectives of experiment, analytical solution and numerical method. Finally, directions and methods concerning future research on CFRP conductive characteristics are proposed， including more simple and real-time experiment scheme, more precise and effective simulation model and analytical solution.