Kineticists and Prestige Classes

[Raziel Hethune]

So, I have a question that has been bugging me on and off since Occult Adventures came out. Kineticist is a great class, but can it take prestige classes for casters? It seems very similar to my old favorite the 3.5 Warlock, and in Complete Arcane it gives the following rules for them:
"A warlock cannot qualify for prestige classes with spellcasting level requirements, as he never actually learns to cast spells. However, prestige classes with caster level requirements, such as the acolyte of the skin, are well suited to the warlock. A warlock’s caster level for his invocations fulfills this requirement."

But I have yet to find any such rules for the Kineticist. Do the same rules apply using their Kineticist level as their caster level for their Infusions/Wild Talents?

[Torbyne]

revised answer, closer to your question: Nope, the kineticist does not have a caster level at all, in any sense. some class abilities mimic caster levels when checks are needed for SR or the like but it was immediately clarified upon release that the Kineiticist is not a caster. There was a controversy about this when it first came out as it meant that they can not take item creation feats to create their own Kineticist specific magic items. Their powers do not grow in any prestige classes and do not let them qualify for any either.

[Claxon]

Yeah, they don't qualify for any caster prestige class as they don't have anything resembling a caster level or the ability to cast spells.

Currently there isn't a prestige class that would advance their powers, except the Evangelist which has the aligned class feature.

[Imbicatus]

Evangelist is a really good option for kineticists though. You can easily afford deific obedience to qualify and you gain more utility. It's also very thematic. Imagine a pyrokineticist of Sarenrae, or a air/water of Gozreh.

[Raziel Hethune]

I would consider GM Fiat that any class that increases a warlock's eldritch blast and invoker level etc. would do the same to the kineticist. It just sucks, as there are a few 3.5 Prestige classes that would be interesting. Particularly Arcane Trickster, Mindbender, Eldritch Disciple/Theurge, Wild Mage, and Blood Magus (Blood Kineticist archetype was MADE for this). It also bothers me about Item Creation feats. Somebody who can manipulate raw elemental forces and matter can't create anything? Bummer. "Oh, I can create earth and metals with this ability, or I can create wood and water with this ability, but nope. Can't do anything with them."