The certificates do in fact go on your record.
So recently I completed the four courses required for the Digital Communications certificate, while working towards my masters degree:
EC3500 - Analysis of Random Signals (4-0)
EC3510 - Communications Engineering (3-1)
EC4550 - Digital Communications (4-0)
EC4580 - Error Correction Coding (4-0)
I had often asked whether I would get anything on my Officer Record for this, and never got a straight answer from NPS. But, today while logging into BUPERS Online, I saw this in my ODCR:
After some digging, I found the website at NPS that lists what every certificate gives you for a subspecialty code. It's located here:
http://www.nps.edu/Academics/GeneralCatalog/206.htm
Scroll down to the section titled "Certificate Curricula," and you'll find the list.
