Jumping straight to jpn 3

I want to jump straight to JPN 3 (Because I have done self study with no tutor) I have been advised by the professor of that class that it is not recommended I jump straight to JPN 3 and that I would have a hard time, so the Professor suggested I jump to JPN 2 instead. I would be fine with it, however in the back of my mind I was thinking how it would effect my graduation time and my excess credit hours. I have done the calculations, if I proceed to fufill the foreign language course with Spanish (because I already took spn 1 and spn 2and i know spanish, so it would be simple to pass) and take the courses needed for my degree and minor: I would spare 1 credit hour from my credit limit. However since I want to take JPN because I want to refine my Japanese: If I follow all my degree credit requirements and minor + JPN 2,3 and 4 (JPN 4 would be needed to complete my foreign degree requirement. I would excess 5 credits over the credit limit