Worth paying for a certificate? after 5 years as a quality inspector

I saw that many postings ask for a specific certification. Any experience at all would help. I am unsure whether employers value it. Is there free funding?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

Check a dozen job postings first. If most ask for the same certificate, it is probably worth it.