Apprenticeship in birthing center or homebirth...How to choose?

So, I've been offered the opportunity and decided to take it studying abroad at a high volume birthing center for most of my sign-offs for my CPM. My goal is to get as much experience in as many different birthing situations as possible at the same time completing the sign-off NARM requirements. Even if I complete all of my requirements and am able to send in my paperwork to NARM and receive certification and licensure for my state (CO), I don't intend to work completely solo for a bit - hopefully with an experienced midwife willing to back me up and/or serve as my supervisor until I'm 100% comfortable. However, what I seem to hear a lot of is comment that if I have my CPM and LM, an experience midwife would be more-so inclined to either not work with me at all, or, if so, only under the condition that I basically start all over again and on her terms decide whether or not I can act as primary on any prenatal/birth.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is this...in a world of hypotheticals, if I go to the birthing center, get my experience, get my certification and feel confident about my abilities to practice independently, is it completely out of the scope of normalicy to do so or is it really true as some have said, (although others challenge) that if most of your experience is in a high volume birthing center, you don't have a clue about working in a homebirth environment?

Decisions, decisions....

they are very different environments, especially if you are attending an out of country centre as they dont usually have the equipment and medicines available to you.

Maybe you can do the birth centre experience and then spend 6 months or so preceptoring with a midwife in the US? That way you will get your NARM req. skills and catches etc but will have some experience at home?

Totally true (starrlamia)...I've thought about this (apprenticing 6 months or so with a preceptor), only problem is finding one that will work with me (especially for such a short period)...One thing I have noticed a lot of, is the older/wiser/sage-ier the midwife, the less inclined she is to work with anyone who won't basically commit to her for an indefinite period - almost as if that apprentice's entire future is in her hands to determine...not to say it's 100% accurate, but it's definitely become something I've found more and more...

What school are you going through? They may be able to help you find someone. Also, the manastudentmidwives (i cant remember the exact name) yahoo group could probably help you out tons in finding a preceptor!