-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 D6Ytjgd5eNd1sVuHq+BoH/SgIoUXlcf1Sc4XN6KJCfHf5qgegxU8kMkPKLt8J5CR
 3V/GZsVm0jC3jy2///30rQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721237-07-000040.txt : 20071204
<SEC-HEADER>0000721237-07-000040.hdr.sgml : 20071204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071204091941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721237-07-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071204

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:			1231

	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:			BERNSTEIN GEORGE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257457

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10031
		FILM NUMBER:		071282190

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(484) 947-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC
		STREET 2:		1615 WEST CHESTER PIKE STE 200
		CITY:			WEST CHESTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19382-6223
</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>2007-12-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERNSTEIN GEORGE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1615 WEST CHESTER PIKE STE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEST CHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19382-6223</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>740</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5740</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5840</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>160</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>George H. Bernstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----