Certificates can get you in trouble (Score 1)

Here's one problem with certificates: people expect you to know everything about the subject area. A co-worker had some MS certs, everyone (including the co-worker himself) had the expectation that he should be able to figure things out- even when he really should have asked for help.

If you use certs to help you get a job. That's it, do not display them, wear the pin, etc. unless you really are an expert beyond what they test you on. Even so, no one on the job will care that you have certs.

One exception, if you are trying to get a better job and you don't need those skills for your current job, go ahead and leave your books around and ask for projects related to your cert. skills. "I can do c# programming and I have a little extra time, do you need any help with ...[insert project that they really need help on]."