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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721237-09-000017.txt : 20091106
<SEC-HEADER>0000721237-09-000017.hdr.sgml : 20091106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091106175734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721237-09-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAVENS PETER H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226979

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10031
		FILM NUMBER:		091166014

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC
		STREET 2:		1615 WEST CHESTER PIKE STE 200
		CITY:			WEST CHESTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19382-7956

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 W CHESTER PIKE
		STREET 2:		STE 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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226979</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAVENS PETER H</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>19382-7956</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3401</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29979</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2198</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27781</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">these shares will vest on the earlier of (i) the 1 year anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) the day immediately prior to the date of the next annual meeting of the Company's stockholders, provided, however, that no vesting will occur and the shares will be forfeited if the reporting person fails to attend at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company during the 1 year period following the dte of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Havens disclaimes beneficial ownership of 9,771 of these Securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting person is the beneficial owner of such Securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1,551 shares held by Mary L. Smith Trust TFBO his son, over which the Reporting Person has sole voting and disositive authority and as to which the Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">1,970 shares held by Mary L. Smith Trust TFBO his daughter, over which the Reporting Person has sole voting power and dispositive authority and as to which the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">6,250 shares helb by spouse of the reporting person, over which the Reporting person has sole voting and dispositive authority and as to which the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">2,198 shares donated as a noa fide gift to the Louise A. Havens Foundation for Diabetes Research</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter Havens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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