If a familiar has prestidigitation and alchemy with enough ranks, can they act as an assistant or even as a full alchemist?
Yes. Prestidigitation would allow the familiar to perform the manual labor required to do alchemy.
Hmm. So, it isn't like a telekinisis. It can only do those things that you are physically able to do? So a short person couldn't use it to get something off of a tall shelf?
Sorry, I entirely misread the original post mentioning Prestidigitation. I'll correct.
Thanks. Oddly, I am actually building an NPC for my GM there.
One follow up question on Familiars. The character gets a +1 to save when the familiar is close enough. Is it intended that the familiar get the bonus too?
No.
Dang. Worth asking though. :)