<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001096658</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRA SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282550</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRITERION CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Affiliate of Director (1)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001333515</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lord Christopher Hawkins</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Affiliate of Director (1)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001333577</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Marwell Evan Chandler</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Affiliate of Director (1)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1736900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting persons are Criterion Capital Management, LLC (&quot;Criterion&quot;), a Delaware limited liability company and investment adviser registered with the SEC, Christopher H. Lord and Evan C. Marwell. Mr. Lord is the manager and controlling owner of Criterion. Mr. Marwell is Managing Director and Senior Securities Analyst of Criterion and a director of Centra Software, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;). As such, he serves as a representative of the reporting persons. Criterion, Mr. Lord and Mr. Marwell are filing this Form 3 jointly and constitute a group, within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, but disclaim membership in a group with any other person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are held directly by investment funds of which Criterion is investment adviser and/or general partner for the benefit of the investors in those funds. These securities are indirectly beneficially owned by Criterion and by Mr. Lord as its control person. The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Criterion Capital Management, LLC by Christopher H. Lord, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher H. Lord</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Evan C. Marwell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
