Monetizing on YouTube starts with getting into the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Here are the current eligibility thresholds, both paths to qualify, and how to make sure you actually hit them.
The core eligibility requirements
To join the full YouTube Partner Program for ad revenue, you need all of the following:
- 1,000 subscribers.
- Either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
- An account in good standing with no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- 2-step verification turned on.
- Living in a country or region where the program is available.
Note the 'or': you can qualify through long-form watch hours or through Shorts views, whichever fits your content.
The earlier fan-funding tier
YouTube also offers an earlier on-ramp that unlocks fan-funding features (like memberships and Super Thanks) at a lower bar before you reach full ad-revenue eligibility. It is worth turning on so you can start earning from your community while you grow toward the 1,000-subscriber threshold.
How to actually hit the thresholds
The requirements are downstream of doing the fundamentals well:
- Focus on watch time, not just views — longer average view duration compounds toward 4,000 hours fast. Track it with YouTube analytics.
- If you make Shorts, lean into the 10-million-views path; a single breakout Short can move the needle.
- Keep your account clean — one strike can pause monetization.
- Grow subscribers by packaging videos to earn the click.
After you are accepted
Getting in is the start, not the finish. From there, your earnings depend on RPM, CPM, and how much watch time you generate — see YouTube CPM vs RPM and our overview of YouTube monetization requirements for the money side.
Grow toward monetization faster
Tubely helps you package videos so they get watched, which is exactly what pushes you past the YPP thresholds.