Pharmacy technician certification is voluntary in some states, but most require it for employment. Fortunately, if your state requires it, the process of getting it is simple.

A doctor dies and goes to Hell. The Devil greets him and tells him that he would have to choose his eternity. The Devil opens the first door, in which doctors are hanging from their ankles and being whipped by demons. "Oh my God, I don't want that!" the doctor replies ... Funny stuff.

Earnings for medical assistants vary depending on their experience, skill level and location. The mean annual salary nationwide for medical assistants as of May 2007 was $28,430.

Both work in a hospital or doctor's office, both make sure patients are comfortable and cared for, and both are relied on for the smooth operation of a medical office. But medical assistants and nurses are two distinct professions, each with a slightly different focus.