Are Certifications in Decline?

An article today from Channel Insider had this to say about certifications:

VARs: IT Certs More About Marketing, Less About Skills DATE: 2008-06-13 By Jessica Davis While most certifications aren’t good for much except demonstrating to clients that your staff is well-trained, there are a few certifications that still mean something, VARs say. IT certifications are not only declining in value in enterprise IT departments, they’re also not as sought after among VARs and other channel partners when they look to hire engineers. However, the channel does have another use for certifications most IT departments don’t – marketing to clients.  And a few certifications are still prized among employers. “Cert value is in decline,” acknowledges David Bennett, owner of Connections for Business in Hollywood, Fla. Bennett says that these days engineers will have a “paper CNE” certification or a “paper MCSE.” “People don’t have the real-world experience,” Bennett says. “In fact, we joke that MCSE stands for ‘Must Consult with Someone Else.’”  Click here for the complete story.

What do you think? Are certifications still an important consideration when you hire new engineers for your organization? If so, which ones do you consider relevant for an SMB focused VAR?