Are certifications worth it while job hunting?

I saw that many postings ask for a specific certification. Any experience at all would help. I would like to use funding if possible. Did a certificate help you get hired?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 10 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It made the follow-up calls so much easier.