YouTube is lowering its entry requirements for joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which unlocks access to those all-important monetization features.

As TechCrunch reports, until now eligibility for the program required a YouTube creator to have at least 1,000 subscribers, as well as 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days. YouTube doesn't allow Shorts views to count towards public watch hours, so the two can't be combined to reach the eligibility total.

Under the new entry requirements, only 500 subscribers are needed, as well as 3,000 public watch hours or 3 million public Short views in the last 90 days. At least three public video uploads must have also occurred in the last 90 days, which seems to be a new rule to ensure a YouTube channel is active and posting new content regularly.

Anyone who becomes eligible for YPP gains access to monetization features including Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. It's also possible for the YouTuber to promote their own merchandise through YouTube Shopping and take advantage of paid-for channel memberships.

For now, the lower requirements for YPP are being made available to YouTuber creators in the US, UK, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea. Other countries where YPP is available will adopt them at an unspecified later date. Separately, YouTube introduced new contract terms for the YPP five months ago, which all creators need to sign up to before July 10 this year.

There's also good news for YouTube creators already in the YPP who have more than 20,000 subscribers. YouTube is allowing you to take advantage of its Shopping affiliate pilot and tag eligible products in videos (and Shorts) to earn a commission. For now, this feature is limited to the US.

Of course, in order to earn money on YouTube you first need to create a popular channel. Good editing helps, but thankfully it's possible to edit your videos for free. And if you want to focus on game streaming, we've got the ultimate guide to help get you started.