I don't think you'll ever see the requirement of degree for upgrade; however, it will certainly give you an edge when hiring resumes in what promises to be a very competitive market. I unfortunately never finished my degree, left early after 3 years for personal reasons with expectation of returning and never got back into it. After reading this thread it's given me a push to finish what I started, I'm already looking into completing my degree online to re-invent myself for future jobs as well as personal satisfaction