Its not feasible to "test" knowledge always. Many degrees, are the qualification to practice a particular profession.
Think about how bad it would be, if medical degree holders do not know how to treat people, pilot license holder do not know how to fly airplanes or civil engineer degree holder not knowing what alleviation is safe for the suspension bridge. The only way patients/flying authorities/ government authorities etc. would know if a doctor/pilot/engineer is qualified to carryout the assigned task, if the degree actually reflect a reasonable level of proficiency in the particular field.
I do agree that the certification process for those important professions plays an important part in ensuring public safety. I offered my comment as a path to feeling a bit better about seeing other people who share one's credentials without, it seems, achieving quite the same standard.
I would also offer however, that even those professions do not completely trust the degree. Each one of those professions has a number of oversight and regulation bodies which are inconstant contact with the the practitioners. Specifically:
- Malpractice insurers who specify covered and non-covered activities
- Professional colleges which review practitioners regularly
- the FAA
Think about how bad it would be, if medical degree holders do not know how to treat people, pilot license holder do not know how to fly airplanes or civil engineer degree holder not knowing what alleviation is safe for the suspension bridge. The only way patients/flying authorities/ government authorities etc. would know if a doctor/pilot/engineer is qualified to carryout the assigned task, if the degree actually reflect a reasonable level of proficiency in the particular field.