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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KOw4Q6spXH2khgxabYEvC7/Q3DSoM0lraArdoJwdmG3nb6AjBGOqiolKyXViwEgY
 /r+hxteG7lQ7lqnaCtJNvg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721237-06-000021.txt : 20061109
<SEC-HEADER>0000721237-06-000021.hdr.sgml : 20061109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061109163737
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721237-06-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061108
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061109
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061109

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000721237
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				222465204
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 WEST CHESTER PIKE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WEST CHESTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19382-6223
		BUSINESS PHONE:		484-947-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 W CHESTER PIKE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			WEST CHESTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19382-6223

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NOBEL EDUCATION DYNAMICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931222

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROCKING HORSE CHILD CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931222

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PETRIE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19851031

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH RALPH R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280233

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10031
		FILM NUMBER:		061202830

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(484) 947-2035

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 WEST CHESTER PIKE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			WEST CHESTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19382-7956
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721237</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NLCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH RALPH R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1615 WEST CHESTER PIKE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEST CHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19382-7956</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-11-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options granted pursuant to the 2004 Omnibus Stock Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ralph R. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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