Certification or Degree

That's a local decision.

 

I skipped through most of this, but I have a tech under me with damn near every cert (or so she claims). She doesn't know shit. I'm the team lead for desktop support at a hospital, so all her certs are IT related. I've had to explain things like where the escape key is, how to use remote desktop, the difference between Novel and Windows login credentials, AD authentication, RADIUS..... the list goes on. But she's certified! Anyone can pass a test with enough prep work, and still not know shit. She is proof of that. I've had to explain soooo many simple things multiple times because the experience and knowledge just isn't there. It wasn't drilled into her head by school, work, or personal experience.

Now, if you know your shit and just want the paper to prove it for a raise then get the certs to shove in whomever's face you're trying to get more money from. Or your job requires it and will pay for it. A BS is a little harder to fake than certs IMO. Also depends on the cert like many said. I consider the A+ worthless as when I took it in 2005 I could've passed it with zero tech knowledge. All the questions were customer service oriented or common sense, and I never need to take it again. I also passed with next to no studying. Just looking at a practice test to see the types of questions and format.

 

bachelors or bust as how I would think of it...it matters in the long run.