First and foremost, know that certifications can't replace experience or degrees. They are just another step in your continued education. What a certification shows to employers is you know the theory and best practices of a specific technology, and also that you can pass a test. The quote "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is" says a lot about what you learn from a certification. While it's good to know what the best practices are for a specific form of technology, when you get to the field, often it's a struggle to use best practice. Use certifications to learn a technology you don't know, but they aren't replacements.
One question I see come up on Spiceworks or get asked about is "how valuable are certifications to getting a job?" From what I've experienced, the value is "in the eye of the beholder". While that line is specifically for beauty, it also applies to certifications. A certification only has value if your [future] employer recognizes the skill involved as well as the certifying school of that certification. The same is true with a degree, actually, but they carry more weight because it's universally understood how much work is involved in a degree.
You may ask at this point "but I see lots of job descriptions with certifications." Yes, that is true. Odds are, they are supplied by HR who either cut and paste from similar job descriptions from other companies, or they added it because someone told them to add it. There is a chance that who created that description knows, but that's just a chance. Odds are, it's just one more requirement to check a box for the resumes they see for that posting.
One place were you are almost guaranteed to get the full value of a certification are at Managed Services Providers (MSPs). Why? Because they sell their services to new and existing clients by saying "all our technicians are certified in [x] technology, so we know what we are doing!" You will also come across technicians in MSPs to be earning more certifications so they can move up the pay chain as they have more technical experience. Certifications are practically required if you want to work at an MSP.
Should this persuade you from earning one? It shouldn't if there is something you really want to learn, just know that having them won't mean a big bump in in your pay or will bring a big raise once you get one. Learn for learning sake, and never stop learning.
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