Joining the YouTube Partner Program is one of the first major milestones when you start out as a YouTuber. That’s because joining the YouTube Partner Program means you can monetize your channel and start earning from your YouTube videos and Shorts. And who wouldn’t want to make money as a creator?
More than 100 million people use YouTube daily, so there's plenty of money to be made by anyone enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program. Just take a look at YouTube's top earners like Mr Beast and how much money they put into their videos. This wouldn't be possible without the ad revenue they earn from being part of the YouTube Partner Program.
So how do you go about joining them and how long will it take? Read on for everything you need to know about becoming a fully-fledged member of the YouTube Partner Program, including all the awesome perks you’ll get once you’re in.
- What is the YouTube Partner Program
- YouTube Partner Program requirements
- How to join the YouTube Partner Program
- Tips for making the most of the YouTube Partner Program
- YouTube Partner Program FAQs answered
- Join the YouTube Partner Program to start monetizing your videos
What is the YouTube Partner Program and should you join?
The YouTube Partner Program (or YPP) is YouTube’s way of allowing creators to earn money from their videos and Shorts. If you meet the entry requirements and successfully apply to join, you’ll also get access to exclusive resources like the Creator Support team, who are available 24/7 to answer any questions you have about making money from the platform.
Who is the YouTube Creator Support team?
The YouTube Creator Support team is on hand to help anyone in the YouTube Partner Program with a question about their channel. So if you’re unsure about copyright guidelines, Content ID, or anything to do with your account, you can contact Creator Support.
While it is possible to make money as a YouTuber without being part of the YouTube Partner Program, joining unlocks the easiest ways for YouTubers to make money. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to start tapping into the support of your audience by earning through Memberships, Shopping and Supers.
As your channel grows, you’ll also be able to start earning passive income from ads running on your videos and collect your share of YouTube Premium subscription fees. If that sounds good and you like the idea of earning money from your channel, check out more ways to make money from your videos and Shorts in our YouTube monetization guide.
How to join the YouTube Partner Program in 2024
The YouTube Partner Program has two levels, with each unlocking different ways to monetize your content. The first entry tier was introduced in June 2023 and allows you to start monetizing your channel through audience-based initiatives like Channel Memberships and Supers.
But to unlock the full benefits of the YouTube Partner program and start earning from ad revenue and YouTube Premium, you have a few more boxes to check off.
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YouTube Partner Program requirements in 2024:
Before you can enroll in the YouTube Partner Program, there are a few hoops YouTube asks you to jump through first. We’ll get to the different levels of subscribers and watch hours you need shortly, but there are some basics you need to check off first.
You could be getting millions of views for every single video, but if you don’t meet these requirements you’re never going to get money from the YouTube Partner Program. All you need to do is follow three simple steps.
Play by the rules 👮♀️
Make sure you follow the YouTube channel monetization policies. In a nutshell, you need to create original content YouTube’s advertisers would be happy to have their brand appear alongside. Otherwise you might miss out on earnings or even get booted out of the YouTube Partner Program.
Protect your account 🔒
YouTube takes security seriously, which is why you need to turn on 2-step verification for your Google Account before you join the Partner Program. It's a simple step to keep your hard-earned YouTube cash safe and sound!
Make sure you can get paid 💵
You want to receive your money, right? Create and link a Google Adsense account so that YouTube can share your earnings with you. Otherwise how are you going to get paid?
Set up your Google Adsense account by heading to the Earn tab in YouTube Studio. You’ll need to provide some personal details before your account is verified, which can take a few days.
Earn from the YouTube Partner Program’s audience-based features
YouTube expanded its YouTube Partner Program in June 2023 by introducing an entry level that allows creators to start earning directly from their audience. To start making money from Channel Memberships and Supers, you simply need:
- 500 subscribers to your channel
- Three valid public uploads in the last 90 days
- Either 3,000 watch hours in the last 12 months, or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days
Right now early access to the YouTube Partner Program is only available in selected countries, including Canada, the UK and the US. Over time, YouTube plans to make this lower entry point available to creators into all other countries where the YouTube Partner Program is available.
Check your progress by heading to the Earn tab in YouTube Studio. You’ll find a handy progress chart counting down to your next milestone.
How to unlock the full features of the YouTube Partner Program
Earning from your audience is one thing, but making money from ad revenue across your videos and Shorts, as well as earning from Premium subscriptions, is how you really start making money from YouTube.
The bar is slightly higher if you want to unlock all of the YouTube Partner Program’s monetization options, but not by much! Reach the milestones below and you’ll be able to make money from both YouTube Premium subscriptions and ad revenue from your videos and Shorts.
- 1,000 subscribers for your channel. Over 10 million YouTubers have reached this landmark already so it’s definitely achievable, even if you’re only just starting out! Check out our guide on how to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube if you haven’t quite hit that milestone yet.
- Either 4,000 watch hours on your content in the last 12 months, or 10 million YouTube Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Most countries are eligible for signing up, but it’s worth double-checking the YouTube Partner Program’s availability in your region
How to join the YouTube Partner Program: Step-by-step
So you’ve grown your channel and you’ve met the requirements to join the YouTube Partner Program. What’s next? All you need to join the YouTube Partner Program is follow a few quick steps and apply for YouTube to review your channel.
- Log into your YouTube account.
- Check you’ve met the YouTube Partner Program requirements by heading to the Earn tab in YouTube Studio.
- Make sure there are no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.
- Familiarize yourself with YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
- Head to the Earn tab in YouTube Studio and hit Start to begin application.
How long does joining the YouTube Partner Program take
There’s no set amount of time it takes to check off the requirements for the YouTube Partner Program. Some creators can rack up the necessary subscribers and watch hours seemingly overnight, but it depends on factors like how popular your niche is or how often you upload.
After you’ve applied to join the YouTube Partner Program, you simply need to wait for YouTube to review your channel and come back to you with a decision. It can take up to a month but you can check for updates in the Earn tab at any time.
My YouTube Partner Program application was rejected: Can I appeal?
The reason your application for the YouTube Partner Program has been rejected is because YouTube’s reviewers found a lot of your content doesn’t meet YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
Don’t worry, you’ve got options if you’re rejected. You can choose to appeal YouTube’s decision within 21 days if you feel their judgment has been unfair. Or if this is your first application to be rejected, you could try uploading more original content and reapplying after 30 days.
If your application is rejected a second time, you’ll only be able to reapply after 90 days. As long as you follow YouTube’s channel monetization policies, you shouldn’t have a problem though.
Tips and tricks to make more money from the YouTube Partner Program
Joining the YouTube Partner Program is one thing, but you’ll want to maximize your earning potential once you’re in. Getting a bigger piece of the ad revenue pie is all about growing your channel and racking up more views.
It’s a simple equation. The more people are watching your videos, the more ads will be shown alongside them. And that means extra cash for you and your channel!
Grow your audience
Building an engaged audience to consistently watch your videos will help you reach more eyeballs and bring in more ad revenue. Find out how small additions to your videos and nifty changes to your channel can help boost your subscriber count in our guide on how to get more subscribers on YouTube.
Maximize your views
It goes without saying that more views will translate into higher ad revenue, and there are plenty of little tweaks you can make to bump up your view count. Getting familiar with the YouTube algorithm and SEO is the key to unlocking bigger numbers. All you need to do is check out our post on getting more views on YouTube to discover how.
Check analytics to see which content performs the best
YouTube Analytics gives you valuable insights at your fingertips. It allows you to see which of your videos are hitting the mark with viewers so you can cook up a recipe for future hits.
Familiarizing yourself with key metrics like average view duration and watch time can be a cheat code for creating videos that keep people’s attention for longer. So brush up on the key numbers behind your content with our guide to YouTube Analytics.
The YouTube Partner Program: Your FAQs answered
How much does the YouTube Partner Program pay to creators?
How much you get paid through the YouTube Partner Program isn’t an exact science. It depends on factors like your view count, your audience's location, and how people interact with the ads. And that’s before you consider that YouTube takes more than half the ad revenue before sharing it out with creators.
Based on these factors you might see anything from a couple of bucks a month, right through to a full-time salary. It’s not uncommon for one creator to be receiving $1-2 per thousand views with another creator in a completely different niche getting well over $15.
Maximizing your earnings is all about creating great content and building an engaged audience that can’t get enough of it. And it’s worth checking out how profitable your particular niche is too. As an example, YouTubers offering financial advice and life coaching are more likely to get more revenue for every 1,000 views than gaming or entertainment channels.
Can you make money on YouTube without the Partner Program?
You can monetize your YouTube channel without being a part of the YouTube Partner Program, but the journey can be a bit more challenging. And you won’t be able to collect any of that sweet passive income!
You’ve got options like reaching out to brands for sponsorships, crowdfunding, or drumming up merchandise sales through other sites. But because these methods aren’t part of YouTube like the Partner Program is, they’ll take up serious time that could be spent making videos.
Is it hard to join the YouTube Partner Program?
By YouTube’s count, over two million creators have joined the YouTube Partner Program, showing it’s definitely doable. To get there simply focus on building a vibrant community around your channel and creating high-quality, engaging content. And remember, every successful YouTuber started from scratch!
Join the YouTube Partner Program to start monetizing your videos!
Now you know what it takes to join the YouTube Partner Program, set yourself the goal of reaching the required milestones and apply as soon as you can. Because once you’re in you’ll be able to tap into different ways to make money from your videos.
And now YouTube has introduced a lower entry tier, it’s never been easier to set your channel up as a source of extra income. Follow the steps outlined above and you’ll be able to earn from ad revenue, sign up paid members for your channel, and sell merch directly to your fans.
The best bit is that the possibilities for earning are limitless. You only need to check out our guide on how to make money from YouTube to see the different ways you can make some serious cash. So what are you waiting for? Grow your channel by following our advice and unlock your YouTube channel’s earning potential.
