<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270045</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ABBEY OSBORNE F JR</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</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President Education</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Osborne F. Abbey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

