I'm in public sector consulting, working with state government clients. I got my PMP cert in 2010, and while I had a lot of job opportunities before, they increased by a factor of 10x as soon as I added that to my resume, and I was able to raise my rates accordingly. PMP is specified in many RFP's now, so it's basically a job requirement if you want to be successful in this business. It's an extremely challenging test, although I've been doing Project Management professionally for 20 years, there are portions of the test that are not particularly popular or in active use, and you need to study these very, very carefully.
Be aware that the test is changing on 1/11/2016, so either get your training done now and make sure to take the test ASAP, or wait until after the new test is released. Many classes are closed now because they've filled up in anticipation of this change.
One tip for taking the test, you can bring your cell phone, laptop or study materials to the test with you and leave them in a locker. You're allowed two breaks during the test and it's permissible to consult your materials during this time. You may not bring written answers back and forth, but you can certainly read up on a particular formula or problem and then bring that back to the test in your head. Most folks are not aware of this going into the test, it helps.
The PMP test was by far the hardest test I've taken since I left college. Plan to spend every spare minute of every weekend studying until you pass. Continuing education requirements are substantial and take planning and effort to stay current. You must go through the CE requirements and be recertified every three years. Do not let your cert lapse.