Kineticists and Caster Level

[Rapajya]

Can a Kineticist qualify for a feat (or anything else, for that matter) that has a Caster Level as a prerequisite?

I'm being told 'no, because all they have is spell-like abilities, they do NOT have a Caster Level'.

Case and point: Blighted Critical (Ultimate Magic, 143)

Blighted Critical:

Blighted Critical (Critical)
With a critical hit from a spell or spell-like ability, you give the target a minor spellblight.
Prerequisites: Caster level 5th.
Benefit: Whenever you confirm a critical hit with a touch spell, ranged touch spell, or spell-like ability against an opponent, the victim gains a random minor spellblight (see page 95).
Special: You can apply the effects of only one critical feat to a given critical hit unless you possess Critical Mastery.

My contention is that this would be a valid feat for a Kineticist. Each of the following would appear to indicate that Kineticists have a Caster Level:

• Kinetic Blast is a spell-like ability (Occult Adventures, 11)
• Kineticists are subject to Concentration checks (Gather Power; Occult Adventures, 12).
• The text of Expanded Element states that one of the benefits of staying with the your original element both times (Levels 7 & 15) is a boost to Caster Level (Occult Adventures, 13)
• The general description of Basic Blasts (Occult Adventures, 15) implies that Energy Blasts are subject to Spell Resistance (it clearly states that physical blasts are NOT subject to SR).

Without a Caster Level, I see Kineticists as severely crippled:

• Concentration checks are 1d20 + Caster Level + Casting Attribute Modifier. Without Caster Level, a 20th level Kineticist will NEVER be able to successfully make a Concentration check to use their Kinetic Blast defensively, even with Combat Casting, assuming a +5 DEX mod (DC 33 vs. 1d20 + 9)
• Without a Caster Level, even a high level Kineticist would be virtually unable to affect anything with Spell Resistance (1d20 + 0 at Level 20)

[Chess Pwn]

'no, because all they have is spell-like abilities, they do NOT have a Caster Level'

Now they do have a caster level for their SLA when it's needed to bypass SR or concentration checks. They don't have a caster level, they only have a caster level for their SLA. So they can't qualify for feats that need a caster level.

[KingOfAnything]

Effective caster levels from spell-like abilities don't count for feat prerequisites.

FAQ

The key-word is "effective"

[Imbicatus]

This is a case of RAW = no, RAI = yes. The feat is clearly intended to work with SLA, so a SLA should count to qualify for it imo. However, per the FAQ it doesn't. I would allow it in a home game, but I wouldn't use it for PFS.

[Rapajya]

Thanks for the rapid responses and the FAQ link.

[Lausth]

Just asking you do know that ''con'' is the primary casting stat for kineticist right? Plus if expended element gives caster level how can a kineticist not have a caster level pls someone explain that to me like you are explaining it to a 5 year old.