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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000857005-05-000073.txt : 20051114
<SEC-HEADER>0000857005-05-000073.hdr.sgml : 20051111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051114132703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000857005-05-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOSES CORNELIUS F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195652

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18059
		FILM NUMBER:		051199357

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CITY:			BEVERLY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01915-1053

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000857005
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				042866152
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 KENDRICK STREET
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7813705000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 KENDRICK STREET
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
</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>2005-11-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000857005</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PMTC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195652</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOSES CORNELIUS F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>140 KENDRICK STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEEDHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02494</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>53312</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>229711</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>429711</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock award that is subject to certain performance criteria under the Company's executive incentive performance plan for 2006 (the &quot;2006 Metrics&quot;). The restrictions on the shares that are finally earned under these criteria lapse on the later of November 9, 2006 or the date the Compensation Committee determines the 2006 Metrics have been achieved.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock award. 50% of each award is subject to the same performance criteria used to determine the reporting person's fiscal 2006 restricted stock award bonus under the Company's executive incentive performance plan (the &quot;2006 Metrics&quot;). Shares earned under these criteria are then subject to time based restrictions that lapse as to one-third of such shares on each of (i) the later of November 9, 2006 or the date the Compensation Committee determines the 2006 Metrics have been achieved, (ii) November  9, 2007 and (iii) November 9, 2008. The remaining 50% of each award is subject to time based restrictions that lapse as to 33,334 shares on November 9, 2006, 33,333 shares on November 9, 2007 and 33,333 shares on November 9, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher J. MacKrell pursuant to power of attorney filed July 29, 2005</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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