The value proposition of getting any particular technology certification is definitely not as black-and-white as it once used to be. Nonetheless for those developers trying to make the often difficult transition into the role of an effective architect, certifications can really help matters. An architect certification is not just a cheap resume builder to appeal to recruiters and hiring managers, but a great way of taking time out to really learn your stuff.
To this end, Oracle offers the Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect certification. It's perhaps the most recognized Java architecture certification out there. The exam portion of this certification has recently been released as a beta program. Because it's a beta program, it's a lot cheaper so definitely something worth looking into if you have an interest. Read more details on the Oracle certification blog.