That's BS. I've never once been asked about degrees, and the only certs I have are some minor things past jobs sent me to get, all of which are long out of date. If you know how to do the job and can back that up with some experience, the other stuff isn't that important. If you can't afford school, look for some work, even if the pay isn't so great. Get the experience and then the school won't be as much of an issue (and you'll have some money to pay for it if you really want).