Maddus Mattus said:
I am MCAD Certified, but I have never got a job or project becuase of it. It's a big plus, but not a requirement (here in Holland).

It all depends on the market of the country and the pickyness of your employers. Personally, I wager a degree higher then certification. Certification will only get you onto projects and a degree will get you a better job IMHO.

The certifications I did, where a big eye opener for Microsoft technologies. They tend to have some questions about features you wouldnt use in the field, wich force you to look around in the framework or server. The questions where a bit..... odd.

I did no do any payed studies, I just studied in my own time.

I would say that a degree is priority number one, experience number two and certifications number three. But if you don't have one or two, I'd say number three is a must.
Good deal.  Great response Maddus; in response to your MCAD certification -- how was the process layed out?

You stated that you studied on your own what you thought was going to be on the test; that's great.  What happend after that?

I'd assume you scheduled an exam for the required items through a testing center?  Upon passing the exams (how long did you have to wait before you found out you passed each exam), what was the next step -- did Microsoft automatically know you passed and send you a certification letter with certificate in the mail, or how exactly does the process continue after you take the tests.

Thanks,
Travis

P.S.; I've got lots of experience, but no degree -- thus being the reason why I am thinking of certifications.  I have many certifications through ExpertRating, but as it seems they are not an industry recognized certification leader/partner -- so I'm thinking of MCITP for Server Administrator and Database Administrator, and then SCNP for Network Security.  Any further advice is appreciated.