YouTube Partner Program requirements, explained
How many subscribers and watch hours you need to earn on YouTube, the two eligibility tiers, and how to apply.
To earn money on YouTube you need to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Eligibility comes in two tiers.
Tier 1: fan funding
500 subscribers, at least 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and one of the following:
- 3,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 12 months
- 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
This unlocks memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks and Shopping, but not ad revenue yet.
Tier 2: ad revenue
1,000 subscribers plus one of these:
- 4,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 12 months
- 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Creators keep 55% of long-form ad revenue and 45% of the revenue allocated to them from Shorts ads.
How to apply
- YouTube Studio → Earn: check your progress
- Accept the terms and link an AdSense account (or create one)
- Wait for review, which usually takes about a month
Why channels get rejected
Meeting the numbers is not enough. The most common reason for rejection is reused content: clips or other people's videos stitched together with little commentary or editing of your own. You can reapply after 30 days, so use that time to publish more original work.
FAQ
- Can I combine Shorts views and long-form watch hours? No. You need to meet one of the two on its own.
- Do private or deleted videos count? Only public watch hours count. Deleting a video removes its hours.
- Do Shorts count toward the 4,000 hours? No. Shorts only count toward the Shorts views requirement.
Track your progress
In YouTube Studio, open Earn to see bars for subscribers, watch hours and Shorts views, and turn on a notification for when you qualify. You can also enter your numbers in the monetization check in RisingTube's Starter guide.
Requirements can change. Always check the YouTube Help Center before you apply.
Next guide: Shorts or long-form: what should beginners start with?