Whats the difference between felon and ex-felon?

usage note for felon Once a person has been convicted of a felony, he or she can be considered a felon for life, according to the strict meaning of the word. (The term ex-felon , for example, is rarely used.)

What does an ex-felon mean?

(4) Qualified ex-felon The term “qualified ex-felon” means any individual who is certified by the designated local agency— (A) as having been convicted of a felony under any statute of the United States or any State, and (B) as having a hiring date which is not more than 1 year after the last date on which such