Substitute teachers on P.E.I. are expected to have formal bargaining rights in the next round of negotiations with the province in 2013.

The P.E.I. Teachers Federation will start representing the 600 fill-in teachers in the new year, Education Minister Alan McIsaac told CBC News Monday.

McIsaac said all that's needed is a small regulatory change by cabinet. Substitute teachers had thought more extensive legislative changes would be needed before they could fall in under the federation's umbrella, but McIsaac said that's not the case.

"There will be a need for an amendment to the instructional personnel regulations, and we are working on that and we're hoping to take that to cabinet in January," he said.

All 1,800 full-time teachers across the Island re-enter negotiations with the province next year, and it's expected substitute teachers will have representation at that table for the first time.

Currently, certified substitutes on P.E.I. earn $140 a day, and uncertified substitutes $112.