Qualified Paralegal:
Someone who meets a state's baseline criteria—which can include a mix of a degree, high school diploma, and years of law-related experience under attorney supervision accompanied by an attorney declaration as per California Code, Business and Professions Code - BPC § 6450
Qualified vs. Certified vs. Certificated:
Certified Paralegal: Someone who has earned a formal credential by passing a national certification exam, such as the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam.
Certificated Paralegal: Someone who has completed a formal course of study and earned a certificate from a paralegal program (like an ABA-approved program), but has not taken a national certification board exam.