Are certifications worth the effort of obtaining them?

[MegaTechNerd]

Should you try to get certified on your own or should you wait to get certified from your job. I've always had the mindset that as a professional you should train yourself and not wait on any company to do it for you. What do you guys think?

[Marconi]

I think you are correct on both accounts. The cert looks good on your business resume and website. But to be in business you must be an expert at what you are doing. The certification should be formality.

[RemoteStealer]

This question is an interesting one. How can one have a job working in this field and NOT be certified? I would think that you would need formal training to do many of the tasks required. Climbing towers granted is an easy task but, judging from how high up you have to go and then know what to do once up there, one would need formal training which then equals a certificate to at least justify the fact the climbers take their lives in their own hands doing their job. I cannot imagine how a company would justify an accident (god forbid) to those seeking answers: Well, he wasn't certified, but, he did say he had experience. Yeah, doesn't fly. I wouldn't hire an unlicensed or someone who had no certification as a customer to do my roof or clip my trees; I would think it'd be the same regarding companies hiring wireless technicians and the like. Too risky otherwise.