certifications and degrees don't mean dick unless you have experience in the weight room. i've talked to guys with both that swore i should be doing full range squats balancing on top of a fucking swiss ball for core work. he was about 165lbs at 6'. jminis, did your certification actually teach you anything or did you just teach yourself through years of experience?
regardless, if you want to personal train (which i intend to one day), those little pieces of paper are required.