The effect of the laser surface treatment by different process paramaters on the nodular corrosion of zircaloy-4 plates in different states has been investigated. The results show that the nodular corrosion resistance of zircaloy-4 can be improved remarkably by laser surface treatment. The metallurgical states (stress relieved, recrystallized and cold-worked) before laser treatment for zircaloy-4 has little effect on the nodular corrosion resistance.