Note that there are many systems of education worldwide, and many different kinds of "degrees" and/or "certifications". For example, in a master/apprentice system, the apprentice "learns by doing" (and in part "pays for" the education by performing "simpler" tasks [for which the formal training is not a "prerequisite"]).

It would be interesting to find out if such forms of education (which seem to be less popular in the United States than elsewhere) would be recognized in some fashion as a "qualification" for performing such jobs (e.g. woodwork, cabinetmaking, etc.).