New research shows you might not know your pediatrician as well as you think. Are you certain your child's doctor is board certified, or has even completed a residency in the field? New research shows a number of pediatricians don't have these credentials.

As a mom with two boys under three, Michelle Harrington is no stranger at her pediatrician's office.

"When they were babies, they were both always sick. They both always had ear infections," Michelle says.

Michelle found her pediatrician through a referral, and has been thrilled with his care. But she never thought to ask him about his credentials. That's something a lot of parents can relate to, according to Dr. Gary Freed. "Parents may simply assume that anyone who calls themselves a pediatrician has completed training and is board certified. That's not the case."

"I just wouldn't understand how they could be a pediatrician if they don't have those qualifications," Michelle exclaims.

Recently, Dr. Freed conducted research at the University of Michigan. He found 11% of the pediatricians studied are not board certified.

"Among those who we found were not board certified, a little over 10% of those that we studied had never completed a pediatric residency. Yet, they were still calling themselves pediatricians," Dr. Freed warns.

How can this happen? Dr. Beth Pletcher with The American Academy of Pediatrics says board certification is not required to get a medical license…and physicians can self-declare their area of expertise.

"As a result of that, there may be individuals who have not completed the requisite training and yet are practicing pediatrics or any other medical specialty," Dr. Pletcher explains.

The Pediatric Association strongly believes the credentials are something for parents to consider.

"Board certification and residency training are some objective evidence that an individual is capable of providing that care," Dr. Pletcher says.

Dr. Pletcher says there are other factors to consider as well, and it's up to each family to decide which doctor is right for them.

"This is a very personal decision, and no one can tell you what is right or wrong. Clearly trusting your doctor and having a good relationship is quite important to caring for your children's health," Dr. Pletcher says.

To check your pediatrician's background, start by asking what, if any, residency he or she completed. You can find out about certification by going to The American Board of Pediatrics website, and typing in the doctor's name.

We asked Michelle to look into hers, and she was glad to learn he is a board certified pediatrician.

"It definitely gives you that relief, that 'Oh, good!' Yeah, it gives you peace of mind," Michelle admits.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says it's committed to ensuring that infants and children get the best medical care possible. However, the group is not currently calling for mandatory residency training or board certification.

To see if your pediatrician's board certified, check out the American Board of Pediatrics' website, www.abp.org/ABPWebSite