Don't get me wrong, more important than  C.S, degree or certificate is 
experence...But how do you get that experence? The days are dying when you 
could go into company and say I'm technical support specialist, 
adiministrator or Developer with no way prvoing you are compentent. How do 
those magic doors to job opportunity open...In an ever tightening job market, 
companies want there entry level candidates to have a proof of your skills 
from a non-partail source, like a certificate or C.S Degree.... Those things 
can be validated by HR or the hiring manager... Or the the person giving you 
your techinical review will aready have does qualification and would perfer 
to hire some with the same type of cridential he has...