Question about Spell-Like Abilities

[Brown Jenkin]

I have a question about Spell-Like abilities. How should they be considered when it comes to whether you can cast arcane spells. I wish to take a feat that lists in its requirements "Must be able to cast 3rd level Arcane spells." My character is in the middle of the Mystic Wander PrC (MoF) which grants several spells as Spell Like Abilities to be cast as a Sorcerer of my characters level. The spells availible are Sleep (1st), Suggestion (3rd), Charm Monster (4th) and Mass Charm (8th). My DM is not neccesarily opposed to this but he wants me to make a case for it, so I am asking for help in how the rules should be interpreted.

According to the SRD they are work just like spells except that they have no components. How far does this similarity go, and would it be reasonable to allow it to meet a feat requirement?

From the 3.5 SRD:

Spell-Like: Spell-like abilities are magical and work just like spells (though they are not spells and so have no verbal, somatic, material, focus, or XP components). They go away in an antimagic field and are subject to spell resistance if the spell the ability resembles or duplicates would be subject to spell resistance.
A spell-like ability usually has a limit on how often it can be used. A spell-like ability that can be used at will has no use limit. Using a spell-like ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise, and doing so while threatened provokes attacks of opportunity. It is possible to make a Concentration check to use a spell-like ability defensively and avoid provoking an attack of opportunity, just as when casting a spell. A spell-like ability can be disrupted just as a spell can be. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell, nor can they be counterspelled.
For creatures with spell-like abilities, a designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their spell-like effects and to define any level-dependent variables (such as range and duration) the abilities might have. The creature’s caster level never affects which spell-like abilities the creature has; sometimes the given caster level is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature’s Hit Dice. The saving throw (if any) against a spell-like ability is 10 + the level of the spell the ability resembles or duplicates + the creature’s Cha modifier.
Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order.

 

[James McMurray]

Being able to use a spell-like ability is not the same as being able to cast spells.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

What James said. Being able to use a spell-like ability isn't the same as being able to cast spells. It's just something you know how to do. You don't have experience in actual spellcasting (incantations and all that).

 

[Li Shenron]

Also, IIRC a spell-like ability is not inherently arcane nor divine, in which case they wouldn't meet your requirement in any case.

edit: And they don't have an inherent "level" even if they duplicate the effects of a spell.