Is there credentialism for becoming a C level executive?

There are some orgs that a degree is required and your friend is right, though most I find are more experience focused. In my experience, the orgs that work like your friend described are generally not where you want to work anyway as they are using bureaucracy and credentialing not merit (like anything though, exceptions exist).

A degree is what helps you early in your career to get a foot in a door, or a slightly higher starting pay or position etc. In the end, it is your ability to sell yourself, deliver and most importantly be personable and work with people of all types.

For the most part in tech, whether I am hiring an exec or engineer the only time I actually will look at/for a degree (or certificate) is if I am hiring someone with no professional experience or filling a highly specialized role. Frankly, too much time spent in university is a negative indicator to me, unless you were specializing in a research heavy area or needed it for a professional certification like a medical doctor, attorney etc.

FWIW, some degrees and certain schools on a resume are a negative indicator to me as well. This is because over the past 20+ years I've seen the type of people they produce on average. That isn't to say I won't interview a candidate (or hire them) if they seem like they are a potential fit, just that I'll dig pretty deep to see if the candidate avoided the issues I am aware of. More traditionally "top rated" schools/programs are on this list than basic public state universities.

At any good company, it always boils down to the person in my experience, not a piece of paper. And it should be noted, C level and other exec's usually get hired through referrals, their own network or headhunters and not generally through blind resume submittal. So it is generally a much more personalized process than applying as a basic engineer etc.

Depends on the Org. If you work for a university, lacking a university degree certainly will provide a glass ceiling.

Most orgs, you don't need an MBA or whatever. In fact, having those are often a detriment. To get the C level exec is still an education that you need. It's an education that dogs know instinctively. You don't need to know anything technical, you need to motivate and empower those who are below you. It's people skills that are most important. Even if the position does require some credential that you lack. Having people skills will almost always put you ahead of someone who does have the credential and lacks people skills.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-decries-m-b-a-ization...

He's basically the world's first trillionaire. Having an MBA is certainly a detriment.

I think by now Rust level executive might be a safer choice