Under Penal Law, issuing a false certificate is classified as:

Detailed Explanation

Issuing a false certificate is the class E felony offense. Penal Law §175.40 defines that crime, and Penal Law §70.00(2)(e) sets the maximum class E felony term at 4 years. For contrast, official misconduct under §195.00 is only a class A misdemeanor, while forgery in the second degree under §170.10 is a class D felony.