Great progress has been made in tick taxonomy since Barker and Murrell (2004) proposed the modification of the tick classification system. Main advances include the designation of 61 species, 2 genera and 1 family, and preliminary advances in a molecular classification system for the Argasidae (soft ticks). To facilitate scientific research, discussion and collaboration among workers in this field, this paper elucidates this progress with emphasis on the current taxonomic status of tick families, genera and species, and provides a valid global species list with proposed Chinese scientific names based on the authors’ studies.