It requires the full 1080 days so if you get your 3ae via the abet engineering degree and 180 days in the engine room then you don’t qualify.
(That’s the same as how Master 3,000 GT isn’t an automatic endorsement with Master 1,600 GRT anymore. If an academy grad gets a year as mate and upgrades to 2nd mate with a 1,600 Master crossover they don’t qualify for Master 3,000 GT anymore.)