Does CR count -> level for spell-like template abilities?

[molonel]

I have a character who was just granted the Half-Earth template for becoming the Herald of an Elder Elemental God.

The template is on pages 188-189 of the Manual of the Planes, but it resembles the Half-Fiend and Half-Celestial templates in the MM because it grants spell-like abilities according to level. It says to use character level as caster level for determining which spell-like abilities are available, and since the template adds to your ECL (equivalent character level) for determining your XP and the CR for the party, it seems like it would make sense that it counts toward your caster level, as well.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Use Hit Dice. Do not use ECL or CR. Simple.

 

[kuroshidaku]

Use Hit Dice. Do not use ECL or CR. Simple.

Yeah, when calculating special abilities for monsters you use the Hit Dice instead of character levels. You can do the same for characters cause you gain 1 HD every level.

In the celestial and fiendish templates it says to use HD also