I have done some searching, but I been unable to find specific information about certificate programs and their value-added. Would there be value for someone with an A.S. degree and an interest in Financial Planning to get a certificate from a top university (like Boston University or Cornell), or is it wiser to get a B.S. in business? And also the certificate? What is the general view of certificates in any field (Finance, Project Management, Theology, Human Resource Management, etc)?
Personally, I like them and they could add a strong name to a resume as well as add some specific knowledge without committing to a degree program. At an AS level, I would say a BS will add much more value then a AS+certificate. The best would be to earn a BS in one concentration and a certificate in another to show broad knowledge. Such as BS in Business/Finance with a certificate in International Business.
I know a person who earned a nice B&M Masters degree in the Human Services field. She got a job doing therapy with kids but discovered that she'd never be eligible for licensure based on her 30 credit Masters degree. Without a license her career would be EXTREMELY limited. She went out and earned a CAGS and that made her eligible for licensure. HUGE value added.
I concur with Randell and Kizmet that a certificate makes much more sense if one already has a Bachelor's or (especially) a Master's degree. They can be especially useful in satisfying the usual 18-hour requirement for teaching at the undergraduate level.