You'll probably be fine without it. If I'm interviewing someone and they have a Java 6 certification I'll just think that someone forced them to get it, but if

You'll probably be fine without it. If I'm interviewing someone and they have a Java 6 certification I'll just think that someone forced them to get it, but if they have 17 or newer it would be a big red flag unless they are straight out of uni and working at a consulting firm.