Recent Certification Updates from the State Education Department web page:

Question: Once I have my Initial certificate, do I have 3 years or 4 years to complete the requirements for a Professional certificate?

Answer: The Initial certificate is valid for 5 years. If you have been issued an Initial certificate prior to January 2005, your certificate is valid for 5 years from the certificate effective date.

Question: I understand that the validity period of the Initial certificate was recently changed from 3 to 5 years. If I was issued my Initial certificate before this change, is my certificate now valid for 5 years?

Answer: Yes, all Initial certificates, regardless of the date they were issued, are now valid for 5 years.