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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001220754</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROVIDENCE SERVICE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409751</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Coliseum Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>METRO CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 STATION PLACE, 7TH FLOOR SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001430708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shackelton Christopher S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>METRO CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 STATION PLACE, 7TH FLOOR SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2334850</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These represent restricted stock units received by Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;CCP&quot;) pursuant to an agreement under which Christopher Shackelton assigned to CCP the right to receive all compensation (including equity compensation) that Mr. Shackelton would otherwise receive as a director of The Providence Service Corporation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are held directly by (a) CCP, of which Coliseum Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;CC&quot;), is general partner and for which Coliseum Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;CCM&quot;), serves as investment adviser, (b) Coliseum Capital Partners II, L.P., an investment limited partnership (&quot;CCP2&quot;), of which CC is general partner and for which CCM serves as investment adviser, and (c) Blackwell Partners, LLC (&quot;Blackwell&quot;), a separate account investment advisory client of CCM. Each of Christopher Shackelton, Adam Gray, CCP, CCP2, Blackwell, CC and CCM disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of that person's pecuniary interest therein. Christopher Shackelton is the Chairman of the board of directors of The Providence Service Corporation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Christopher Shackelton, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
