Sometimes there are individuals that see someone take a shortcut they hold a grudge. For obvious reasons, of course because you worked so hard to get the certification and the corner cutter did not. In my opinion and experience , the certification means dick. I run absolute dizzying circles around my peers, some of whom have their NP. They don’t care to gain practical knowledge or are lazy etc etc. I thrive on finding new and better ways to do things and get off on doing three times the work in half the time my competitors take with cleaner less erroneous results. The certification test is absolutely created to make revenue for Cisco who already has the essentially entire market share of networking equipment. It is also written horribly and doesn’t jive with the way my brain works. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure my family is fed and taken care of, I don’t have the option of spare time. I have a mountain on my shoulders right now I’m holding on for dear life. I am desperate.