Originally posted by julian
Yes, they matter.
Depends on the context. Will you get that Sr. DBA position just because you have completed Oracle Certification? No, probably not.

Will getting certified get you more money at your current job or even your next job? No, probably not.

Will the knowlege you gain give you personal satisfaction and confidence so you can become that Sr. DBA and make the big bucks over time? Maybe, if you apply that knowlege.

We all know of people who have become certified with no practical experience and have gotten promotions and raises. But you need to do it for the right reasons with reasonable expectations. OCPs are a dime a dozen. They give you practically no advantage during the job hunting process and even less leverage for raises/promotions.