A question I am always asked during open houses is about certifications. Do they matter in the job hunting process? Do they improve earnings? Unfortunately, these questions do not have a straightforward answer. Nevertheless, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas published a blog post that examines earnings and certifications. They investigate the certifications mentioned by employers in job ads and also examine the earnings differentials between workers with and without certifications. This analysis indicates that the decision of getting a certification should made on a casa by case basis.