I can say that I havce been on both sides if this fence. I was once a LAN Administrator for a large internet / portal company, and they paid for my certification for Windows 2000 Administration, but when they went under, I found that the one cert wasn't enough, after a while I branched out and discovered Linux, I've been pursuing a certification in Linux ever since, I don't have the "chops" to go for the Oracle Red/Hat stuff.....but the "beginnier" Oracle cert should be easy to get....and if I can ace it, then I can use the increase in my current salary to finance more certs in Linux, which I've noticed pays extremely well....better than a Microsoft cert! I really admire those people who earn their CCNA / CCNE etc. to me THOSE people are "special" in that they have a skill that could be compared to a biological thing! I owuld love to get one of those, but the price to get one is way beyond my reach...unless I take out a loan for one!