The invention provides a preparation method for ethyl 3-(pyridin-2-ylamino) propanoate. The preparation method comprises the following steps: under the protection of nitrogen, using 2-aminopyridine and ethyl acrylate as raw materials, anhydrous ethanol as a solvent and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst, performing oil bath heating to control the temperature to be 120-160 DEG C, and carrying out catalytic reaction for 16-20 hours to obtain a reacting liquid; washing the reacting liquid with a first organic solvent under the temperature of 35-40 DEG C and the pressure of 0.09-0.1 MPa, concentrating under reduced pressure, washing the treated reacting liquid with a second organic solvent, and recrystallizing to obtain white lamellar crystal, namely ethyl 3-(pyridin-2-ylamino) propanoate. According to the preparation method, the raw materials are cheap and easy to obtain, the production cost is low, the synthesis process is simple and convenient, the product is easy to separate, and the productivity and the purity are relatively high; the preparation method is environmentally friendly, and high in production safety.