Two separate sets of costs. The state board charges its own application, examination and verification fees, which are published by that board. Immigration charges follow the USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, if the employer files a petition, or the port-of-entry charges for a direct application. Credential verification and travel sit on top.
Budget the board first; it usually costs more
Applicants often budget for the immigration file and are surprised by the licensing one. Board application fees, examination fees, credential verification through the issuing university, and travel to sittings can add up well beyond the government immigration charges, and the timeline they impose has its own cost in delayed income. Ask the employer what it will contribute to each: some practices routinely cover licensing costs for a veterinarian they are recruiting, which is a reasonable thing to raise during the offer discussion. Confirm current immigration fees at the time rather than relying on an earlier figure. Finally, budget for the Ontario side: winding down or transferring a practice has professional, legal and tax costs of its own.
Hypothetical example: a Tyendinaga geologist compares an employer-filed petition with a direct request for admission and assumes the lower filing charge decides the question. It does not. The practical budget includes credential copies, possible evaluation, travel, dependants' applications, and any occupational licensing. Ask which costs are reimbursed, who pays if the planned start changes, and whether the employer requires advance approval before expenses are incurred. A written estimate tied to the actual route keeps a modest fee from obscuring a much larger professional or relocation commitment.