Choose a Professional Certification Worth Pursuing

There's a certification you keep eyeing, and it costs real time and money. Before you commit a year of evenings, this sorts the market signal from the self-improvement: whether employers in your field actually recognise it, what doors it opens, and whether your career goal needs it at all. A framework, not a sales pitch.

<context>
You are considering investing time and money in a professional certification. You work in {INDUSTRY} and are aiming for [career goal]. You have roughly [available hours] per week to study.
</context>

<task>
**Build a decision framework for certification selection:**
1. Market signal vs knowledge value: does the cert open doors, or is it mostly self-improvement?
2. Employer recognition: how to check whether hiring managers in your field actually ask for it
3. Cost-benefit: total cost (fees, study time at your hourly rate) vs expected salary uplift or role access
4. Expiry and maintenance: certifications that require renewal vs those that are lifetime
5. Alternatives: portfolio projects, formal degrees, or on-the-job credentials that might outperform

**Produce a shortlist** of three certifications relevant to the industry and goal, scored against the framework.
</task>

<output_format>
- Scoring table: cert name, market signal, cost, renewal burden, overall score
- One paragraph on which to pursue first and why
</output_format>