Yes, but you MUST have that degree for anyone to listen. It doesn't matter that you “pencilled-out” of every course, graduated from grade and secondary school early, could write your Ph.D. thesis by the time you ended your Sophomore year; so thought you'd blow you brains out if you had to sit through one more dunce waxing poetic about macro/micro economics when he'd never invested in a stock, or had one more Ph.D. ask you to translate the five French novels you'd read in high school “just one more time”; or buy one more expensive “required reading” literary endeavor entitled “History of the World” by an aspiring millionaire with the creativity of an amoeba so that's why he's teaching History at the college level who would only sell a copy of his expansive revisionist's view of history to his wife and mother were it not for your support.
In other words, it's the sheepskin, baby, or you can kiss your authenticity goodbye and don't EVER be expected to have your opinion sought or be given a job that requires you to think — nope, not in this lifetime.