Certifications worth it: AWS/Azure/GCP (top 10 highest-paying globally), CompTIA Security+ (DoD-approved, massive talent shortage), PMP (20%+ salary premiums), Salesforce/HubSpot/Google platform certs (employer credibility for roles using those tools), Google Career Certificates (genuine employer partnerships). Not worth it: generic MOOC completion certificates with no assessment. To decide: analyze 10 job postings for your target role. If a cert appears in 6+ postings, pursue it. If it doesn’t appear, build your portfolio first. Let the market tell you what it values.