Legal Document Assistants (LDA) and Paralegals are two distinct professions with separate business and professions codes. 

A paralegal does not include a nonlawyer who provides legal services directly to members of the public, or a Legal Document Assistant (LDA) or Unlawful Detainer Assistant (UDA) as defined in BPC §6400.

While not all LDAs are Paralegals, all Paralegals can register to become an LDA. To become an LDA registrants must meet certain educational requirements who of which include the completion of a paralegal program as further defined in BPC §6402.1

• (c) A certificate of completion from a paralegal program that is institutionally accredited but not approved by the American Bar Association, that requires successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester units, or the equivalent, in legal specialization courses.
• (d) A certificate of completion from a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.