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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,
 Kuj8+vMEgzpRlXVxuc+8k9Yl/XAB2JKSdtuU8EHVB+be+zz9DnRae+XL+iKZilUT
 78To6GUWtajWAD2Es3R26w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721237-10-000013.txt : 20101112
<SEC-HEADER>0000721237-10-000013.hdr.sgml : 20101111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101112153246
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721237-10-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FINK STEVEN B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215011

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10031
		FILM NUMBER:		101186147

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE
		STREET 2:		844 MORAGA DRIVE
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90049

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>2010-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215011</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FINK STEVEN B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>844 MORAGA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90049</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>2010-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4373</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33305</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) These share will vest on the earlier of (i) the 1 year anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) the day immediately pior to the date of the next annual meeting of the Company's stockholder, provided, however, that no vesting will occure 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 date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">in prior filings the Box 5 total omitted 21,254 shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Person, with were reported on a Form 4 dated May 16, 2008; these shares are now included on Box 5 of this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Slate Tomczak</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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