Oracle Database Discussions

Greetings all, this is my first post so go easy on me. Also, if this thread is in the wrong place feel free to move it!

Currently I am something of a IT "generalist" doing a wide range of things in our department. But for a while now, I've always felt like I wanted to become more of a "specialist" and I've always thought databases were interesting. I have written a couple of basic MySQL/PHP websites but nothing major--and around all the jobs boards they are looking for people with Oracle familiarity or training or Oracle certifications.

So, naturally, I have just started looking into the various Oracle career paths and certifications and I am overwhelmed to say the least! When I did my Cisco CCNA there was about 3 certs and that was it--but on the Oracle/education page there are about 30 things listed!

So, I guess I'm looking for some general advice or direction. For example, is there an exam that everyone has to have under their belt no matter what specific area of Oracle they are going into? What are the most popular/marketable career qualifications? For example, when I did my Cisco certs it was pretty simple: If you wanted to configure and administer/maintain networks you went CCNA then on to CCNP. If you wanted to design networks you when CCDA then on to CCDP. But I just can't seem to wrap my brain around the 30 different paths they list on that page: [http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=50&p_org_id=1001&lang=US#1|http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=50&p_org_id=1001&lang=US#1]

Thanks for any general ice breaking advice or information you can give me!