Last month the article Getting Sun Certified on the Java Platform appeared on the Java developer site. That article made me start thinking...when's the last time you saw a job ad that asked for a specific certification?

When I peruse job ads (it's sort of a hobby of mine), I notice the frequent request for a particular university degree (a BS in CS or maybe a MS in CS). However, I don't think I saw one ad last year that asked for candidates with "Sun Certified Web Component Developer" certification. Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing requests for any Sun certification. Why is that?

In my particular way of thinking, practical skills trump theoretical or academic skills for the vast majority of development/programmer jobs. Assuming similar experience levels, I might favor the applicant with the Enterprise Architect certification over the one with the MS in CS. However, I never see that. I see requests for school degrees, not professional certifications.

Are professional certifications valued in our industry? Do they have more or less weight than a graduate degree? If you hire programmers, developers, or architects, do you value certifications?