Antibiotic　resistance　genes　(ARGs),　carried　by　antibiotic　resistant　bacteria　(ARB)　have　been　present　in　large　numbers　in　wastewater.　Wastewater　treatment　plants　(WWTPs)　are　regarded　as　reservoirs　and　sources　for　a　wide　variety　of　ARGs.　A　large　number　of　mobile　genetic　elements　(MGEs),　heavy　metals　and　emerging　pollutants　(e.g.,　microplastics,　nanomaterials,　pharmaceuticals　and　personal　care　products　and　quorum　sensing　inhibitors)　detected　in　WWTPs　can　impact　the　proliferation　of　ARGs.　Moreover,　the　removal　efficiency　of　ARGs　is　limited　in　wastewater　treatment　processes.　Therefore,　it　is　of　significance　to　summarize　the　research　status　of　ARGs　in　WWTPs.　This　paper　reviewed　the　occurrence　and　transmission　of　ARGs.　The　problem　of　multiple　drug　resistance　and　elimination　of　ARB　were　assessed　in　WWTPs.　Also,　the　effects　of　heavy　metals　and　emerging　pollutants　on　ARGs　in　WWTPs　were　summarized.　Furthermore,　physical　treatment　and　advanced　oxidation　processes　for　ARGs　removal　were　critically　discussed.　Future　research　prospects　were　proposed　with　the　ultimate　goal　to　reduce　the　potential　harm　of　ARGs　to　ecological　environments　and　to　provide　guidance　for　practical　applications.