"To me you should know how to do the work, understand the product and be able to act in a competent manner before you seek a certification. At that point, the certification is the formality. It's simply the sign that you can focus your skills to pass a test when need be."

I think this is a good way to look at it.  After all, for all the tests you took in college, how much of that stuff do you actually remember now?  Except of course the stuff you use day in and day out, which I think is the point.

That begs the question though, why even have these certifications?  Although completing a certification suggests you are competent in that area, it doesn't guarantee it (and could actually be misleading to a potential employer).  It may just mean you're good at cramming for and taking tests, good at 'putting in the effort' so to speak.  Oops, the same can be said for my college degree so I'll be quite now...