Though not all were created equally, IT certifications once had an almost-guaranteed value. In the years after the dot-com bust, many IT pros stocked up certifications namely in an effort to improve their job security. Their managers, in turn, used these accreditations to assure their value to the organization's penny-pinchers.

But when speaking to CIOs, IT managers and analysts about what counts and what doesn't on an IT professional's resume nowadays, one thing that stands out is an almost universal agreement that <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Careers/IT-Certifications-Declining-in-Value/?kc=EWKNLEND060608STR1">IT certifications don't matter the way they used to.</A>