Team-based learning (TBL) in medical education has emerged over the past few years as an instructional strategy to enhance active learning and critical thinking – even in large, basic science courses. Although TBL consistently improves academic outcomes by shifting the instructional focus from knowledge transmission to knowledge application, it also addresses several professional competencies that cannot be achieved or evaluated through lecture-based instruction. These 12 tips provide the reader with a set of specific recommendations which, if followed, will ensure the successful design and implementation of TBL for a unit of study.