When interviewing potential candidates for technical work, I'm looking for experience, projects delivered, application of knowledge, solutions designed and problems solved...

What I'm not specifically looking for is accredited education, i've come across too many people who have done every course under the sun, but cant apply much of what is learned in the real world. So what i'm after is someone who can get a job done, with or without the formal qualifications. IMO, Nothing can replace real world experience. You never learn so much about a system until it breaks and you have to fix it

As I have a detailed understanding of what it takes, the interview can be taylored for each candidate, specific technology questions asked to determine if this person is more suited than another.

Having said all that, course accreditation can be worthwhile. One difference in doing a course and not doing a course is the rate in which you learn (generally speaking). You may be a senior DBA, but have taken 15 years to get there, or thru' courses, application of knowledge and continued study it make only take 5 years...

Of course these are general statements, as people can often pick stuff up, and just "know it" without the formal education side, and the other extreme, where all the courses in the world will never make you a brain surgen.

A tip, if you want to be a creator, and move from the coding floor to project work, IMHO project management skills could be an area where a course may come in handy (in the case you need it). Good project managers that have the ability to inspire the team, push issues thru' management, hit deadlines and satisfy customers are difficult to find... (at least in my small part of the world.)