Oh no, I totally agree. I know my way around an internal combustion engine just as good as the next person and know how it is when someone talks about something they either know nothing about or think they know.

Just because you have the qualifications/certifications doesn't mean it will get you a job. But a degree/certification is usually a tie breaker.

Alot of jobs here in the US, if you don't have a degree, don't bother. But then again its always about who you know.

My friend just got a job literally 30 feet from his house selling oilfield equipment for 57k/yr. No he doesn't have a petroleum degree, but he is qualified (learned everything from his father) and the job was offered to him. If the job wasn't offered and he didn't know the owner of the company and he came to him with his lame ass HS Diploma and degree, he would be laughed right out of the room.