Does using a SLA count as casting that spell?

[RumpinRufus]

For example, can Evolved Summon Monster be used with the summoner's Summon Monster SLA?

Similarly, can a Spelldancer use Dimensional Agility with the Spell Dance ability?

I have previously thought there was a distinction between using SLAs and casting spells, but now I'm not so sure, after seeing someone point out:

Spell-Like Abilities wrote:

Usually, a spell-like ability works just like the spell of that name. A spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic, or material component, nor does it require a focus. The user activates it mentally. Armor never affects a spell-like ability's use, even if the ability resembles an arcane spell with a somatic component.

A spell-like ability has a casting time of 1 standard action unless noted otherwise in the ability or spell description. In all other ways, a spell-like ability functions just like a spell.

Spell-like abilities are subject to spell resistance and dispel magic. They do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell, nor can they be counterspelled.

If a character class grants a spell-like ability that is not based on an actual spell, the ability's effective spell level is equal to the highest-level class spell the character can cast, and is cast at the class level the ability is gained.

[Shar Tahl]

FAQ:

Spell-Like Abilities, Casting, and Prerequisites: Does a creature with a spell-like ability count as being able to cast that spell for the purpose of prerequisites or requirements?

Only if the pre-requisite calls out the name of a spell explicitly. For instance, the Dimensional Agility feat (Ultimate Combat) has "ability to use the abundant step class feature or cast dimension door" as a prerequisite; a barghest has dimension door as a spell-like ability, so the barghest meets the "able to cast dimension door prerequisite for that feat. However, the barghest's dimension door would not meet requirements such as "Ability to cast 4th level spells" or "Ability to cast arcane spells".
posted Feb 18, 2015 | back to top

[Father]

Augment Summoning works with a Summoner's SLA.

Using that as precedent, I would imagine Evolved Summon Monster would work as well.

[Shar Tahl]

Regarding that FAQ, the first one looks like it works. The second also directly calls out using Dimension Door as spell-like ability, although it is has a conditional use only during the dance.

[Diego Rossi]

PRD wrote:

Augment Summoning: Does this feat apply to monsters summoned with summon monster or summon nature's ally spell-like abilities?

Yes.

I think it work the same way, so Yes.