Can you make a career in the IT field earning certifications instead of an actual bachelors degree?

Surely you can make a career in the IT field earning certifications instead of an actual bachelors degree. But you have to make sure you do that certification from a reputed institution and also you need to learn the subject very well. For example if you are interested with CCNA, you need to learn it very well to make a good career.

Yes, I have. I chose not to go to university for a bachelors in computer science and instead got in to earning vendor certificates. It's been good to me and I earn a good living from it. Mind you, if you have a bachelors degree and I don't and we are up for the same job. You have an advantage over me. Some places demand a degree as a prerequisite as well.

Certifications can make you more broader... in many areas.

But bachelors degree is in a specific field.... remember its 90 credits of course work.... not 90 credits of all technical courses...

a bachelors is a good start because it signifies competence and a wide range of knowledge. later in your career as you define what you want to do, certification will come in more useful.